Binding - Saddle-Stitch

It was only a matter of time before someone could build the better mousetrap that Donnie Webb had long envisioned. Webb, president and owner of Mobile, AL-based Superior Printing, had envisioned the ideal saddlestitching system. It would be a flat-sheet collator/bookletmaker that could fold, stitch and cap off with a three-knife trim. “I knew what I wanted; I just had to wait for somebody to build it,” Webb says. “I run mostlyquarter-size presses, with one half-size. I looked at signature collators, but my production was not really set up for running a lot of signatures. A flat-sheet collator was really what I needed.” Webb had been using

Quad Bindery Crew Cranks Out Jobs LOMIRA, WI—In today's competitive, "must have it yesterday" stitched catalog market, speed and overall output capabilities are the keys to success. At the Quad/Graphics facility here, the production crew is setting the pace for stitching speed and output utilizing a Tempo saddlestitcher from Muller Martini. The Quad Tempo is capable of running at 20,000 cycles per hour and the crew was recently recognized with an "Excellence in Finishing" award as the highest producing saddlestitching team among Quad's arsenal of more than 100 machines. Quad/Graphics' LHT-132 team relies on its 36-pocket Tempo saddlestitcher for production output that enables Quad to

Stitcher Installation a First in the States HARTFORD, WI—This month, Quad/Graphics will become the first printer in the United States to install a high-performance Muller Martini Supra saddlestitching system. The Supra will be located at the Quad/Graphics printing center located here. Featuring a newly developed and highly advanced pocket wheel feeder, the new Supra stitcher, shown to the public for the first time at Drupa 2004, offers production speeds of up to 30,000 cycles per hour. Quad's Supra is rated at 25,000 cycles with the new 416 feeder. "Our finishing operations are characterized not just by speed, but by flexibility and efficiency," explains Thomas Quadracci, Quad/Graphics

Stitcher Added to Get Competitive Edge INDEPENDENCE, MO—Post Press Specialties recently purchased a Vijuk 321-T saddlestitcher from Vijuk Equipment. Owner Andy Humble, plant manager Jacob Bagnell and estimator Bowen Griffitt believe the new stitcher will help them become more competitive in the Kansas City market. Equipment Makes the Cut in Reno RENO, NV—Employees at Registered Ink gather in front of their new Polar-Mohr System 2+ automated cutting system. The medium-sized commercial printer has more than doubled in size, sales volume and capacity since owners Bill and Melissa Gillis purchased the former Herth Printing in 1999. The shop's bindery also features a new Polar PM4-ABV automatic pile

Trade Binder Adds New Equipment LONG ISLAND CITY, NY—J&M Finishing recently installed a four-pocket Heidelberg Stitchmaster ST 270 saddlestitcher with cover feeder to increase production and versatility in this all-Heidelberg shop. In order to update J&M Finishing's equipment, owner Mike Perreca temporarily replaced an existing six-pocket Stitchmaster ST 90 saddlestitcher with the new ST 270. Perreca plans to reinstall the ST 90 when additional space becomes available. In addition, J&M Finishing added additional pockets to two machines, making the new ST 270 a five-pocket stitcher and an existing ST 270 a seven-pocket system. Founded in 1999, J&M also houses three B-30 Stahlfolders, a TD-56 Stahlfolder, a Stahl

BY ERIK CAGLE Senior Editor Pity the poor saddle stitcher. It gets no love, no recognition for a job well done. Bindery operators want the stitcher to take care of business, and they certainly don't want to intervene in its appointed rounds. When it comes to their stitchers, notes Darcy Maeda, public relations coordinator for Duplo USA, printers seek the ultimate in automation, in every aspect of the design. "They want the machine's stitcher heads, back jogger, side guides, stitch stopper, fold stopper, size adjustments, fold roller gap and conveyance roller position to adjust automatically," she says. "Automation of this degree

WESTAMPTON, NJ—In another positive sign that things are turning around for the better in the graphic arts, a special customer expo conducted here recently by MBO America and Muller Martini attracted more than 250 participants. Held in early June at MBO America's Westampton headquarters, the exposition was attended by key executives and technicians from facilities that operate or plan to run binderies. Their focus was on a variety of finishing solutions that were operated continuously throughout the event. Werner Naegeli, president and CEO of Muller Martini, headed the team representing his company at the event. "It's always great to meet face-to-face with bindery

New technology abounds in today's saddle stitchers, making them faster and easier to use. Here is a look at what manufacturers are now offering: The Heidelberg USA Stitchmaster ST 400 is designed to ensure maximum production flexibility. The ST 400 offers an output of up to 14,000 cph and is able to handle up to an A3-oversize format. Features include a color display with a touchscreen and touch-sensitive keyboard, missing stitch detection and automatic format presetting. Efficient controls allow for reliable product and quality monitoring. Circle No. 411 on Reader Service Card The Standard Horizon StitchLiner, from Standard Finishing, consists of the SpeedVAC collator,

By Caroline Miller When it comes to saddle stitching, every printer or trade finisher has a different set of needs. Some are looking for increased speed; for others, it is ease of operation or fast make-ready capabilities. And there are those in need of a stitcher that can integrate easily into a larger in-line system. Vendors of production saddle stitchers are responding to all of those needs thanks to a new generation of technology. "We've just seen a quantum leap in technology," says Chris Azbill, vice president at United Litho, a short-run publication printer that recently installed a Muller Martini Tempo saddle stitcher. When

BY CAROLINE MILLER In the world of saddle stitchers and bookletmakers, machinery is king. "The emphasis is on the equipment," reports Ron Bowman, vice president of sales and marketing for Rosback. Ease-of-use, automation, reliability, flexibility, versatility and productivity are just a few of the advances touted by saddle stitcher and bookletmaker manufacturers these days. Many of these innovations have come as a result of the growing industry trend of putting relatively unskilled employees in the bindery, while still demanding that the products they produce be as perfect as possible, reveals Bowman. Rosback offers the Setmaster Stitch/Fold and Trim bookletmaker, an in-line or off-line unit