LYNX THINKS… Horizon provides the ideal collating solution

Lynx Lithographic Printers of Charlton, London has just installed a 10-station Horizon VAC-Turbo PowerCollating system from UK supplier G.A.E. The new machine was bought mainly to cope with the increased throughput and faster turnround times at the company since the recent installation of a 5 colour B3 perfecting press and a CtP system,

The VAC replaces an ageing Horizon machine which had always impressed MD Paul Cambden.
 “We ran our original Horizon collator for the best part of fifteen years, though it was getting a bit old it stood the test of time and served us well. We did look around at other machines but since we know both GAE and Horizon are reliable it made sense to go for a VAC system,” he says. “Now the average collating task can be completed four or five times faster, as our new machine has all the latest automated make ready features. It can be set up in no time using a touch screen control from programmed presets.”

Lynx is a general commercial B3 format printer with a broad spread of customers from well-known national and international names to small local businesses. It also deals with print management companies and takes on trade work in both print and finishing departments. “We have to be versatile,” says Mr Cambden, “and so does our collator. We produce a lot of carbonless pads, but the machine also has to handle 300gsm covers. Our old machine occasionally gave us problems with certain stocks, and marking would sometimes occur. These are things we don’t have to worry about any more. The fact that it counts sheets and automatically inserts a grey board at set intervals is a very useful feature.”

Lynx is a family firm set up 26 years ago by Paul’s father Ray, who is still involved in the business. His sister Tina is Finishing Manager, and regularly operates the new collator. “She loves it, and finds it very easy to use. It requires less attention and allows her more time to do other jobs while it’s running,” says Paul.