In-Print Saves Time with G.A.E Buy

Malton-based B2 ‘Heidelberg house’, In-Print Colour, has introduced a second ‘big H’ to its equipment inventory with the installation of a Horizon StitchLiner system from G.A.E. The collate/saddlestitch/3-knife-trim line, which uniquely finishes unfolded 4-page flat sheet sections from the VAC PowerCollator delivery platform, was specified to improve turnround and target a bindery bottleneck for the full-colour brochures, booklets and leaflets specialist.

According to Paul Coulson, who runs In-Print with his wife and business partner Beverley, the 11,000bph Stitchliner is responsible for delivering consistent workflow through the rapidly-expanding company:

“We have certainly gained time…. sometimes it’s days!  Our old equipment was very good but it was process-heavy and had seen its day. The Stitchliner, operated by my son Lee, saves separate folding and that saves time which is imperative. The new collators have deeper bins so there is less down time. We have very fast turnarounds and it gives us the quality we need - even on 70gsm art. We have had runs of 50,000 A4 eight-page booklets on 70gsm art and it has no problems whatsoever. I did have my doubts to be honest, but it has been problem-free.”

Mr Coulson continues: “The Horizon equipment is very good quality, otherwise I wouldn’t have looked at it. It does what it says it does and that is very important. It is no good having a white elephant in the corner of the room – even if it does look good.”

In-Print is not shy of investing to secure future success. The company, established 25 years ago, moved into a purpose-built 8,000 sq ft site in 2003 and bought a six-colour Heidelberg SpeedMaster with die-cutter, quickly followed by another four-colour SpeedMaster. Mr Coulson adds: “We are an all-Heidelberg house apart from the Horizon equipment.”

And the story doesn’t end there as the company continues its programme to improve productivity and bring more processes in-house. “We don’t stand still. I don’t look for today, I look for what is happening in two or three years time,” states Mr Coulson.