(L-R) Franz Hunkeler, chairman of the board of Hunkeler AG, Andy Cork, managing director of Print on Demand, and Robin Brown, national sales manager for Digital Solutions at Friedheim International.
Print on Demand returned from the Hunkeler Innovationdays with its pockets a little lighter after investing in a custom-designed Hunkeler Book Block line from Friedheim International.
The bespoke book block line is described can run either on-line or off-line. On-line it will be running with mono and colour web inkjet technology at speeds up to 128 m/min, while off-line it is capable of operating at up to 200 m/min. The line’s configuration will include a plow-fold, capable of taking webs up to 30″ wide, a high speed cutter and an offset stacker.
Andy Cork, Print on Demand’s managing director, said, ‘We are currently in the middle of a three-phase technology overhaul, where automation is the only way forward. By reducing the amount of manual handling, our aim is to achieve ‘lean’ manufacturing whereby we produce a customer’s job on the same day ready for despatch the next day – matching if not bettering the speed of a warehouse operation.
‘We are investing a lot of time, effort and money to ensure success in this project, and this involves purchasing the best equipment available. With the Hunkeler line, we are getting the highest possible quality and production efficiency that has been achieved through decades of experience, and that is why the £500K being invested by Print on Demand is a good investment.’
