TJ International has completed an investment plan worth more than £3.5 million

Book manufacturer TJ International has completed an investment plan worth more than £3.5 million by replacing its entire bindery range with Kolbus equipment.

The company has undergone a complete refurbishment of its post-press area, replacing both soft and hard cover production lines, casemaker and foil blocker.

The soft cover line consists of a Kolbus 20 station ZU 822 gatherer, VA423 end sheetfeeder and gluer, KM600 7,000 cycles/hour perfect binder with hot melt and PUR, FA650 front cutting unit, HD143P three knife trimmer plus stacking and shrink wrapping.

A key element of the investment is the BF530 hard cover casing in line; the 70 books per minute flow line is the first of its kind to have been installed in the UK. The installation is completed by a DA270 casemaker, PE312 blocker and SU652 jacketing machine, along with stacking and shrink wrapping.

The company celebrated its 40th anniversary last year and the Kolbus decision follows investment in print on demand and digital technology and is the latest stage of an ongoing capital investment programme.

Angus Clark, CEO, said, ‘An increased drive from clients requiring tangible improvements to the quality of their books has enabled us to buck market trends and commit to an exceptional and truly world-class addition to our armoury.’

Jon Sole, manufacturing director, concluded, ‘This investment means we can offer customers exemplary products in minimal turnaround times. With the new machines we want to push our ability to offer things others cannot. I am really looking forward to seeing the machinery producing quality products across a diverse range of substrates and sizes.

‘The BF line has been running since mid-June and we’ve already seen an incredible improvement on set-up and make-ready times. Quality remains our key focus and this equipment will give us the tools to produce books that are the best in class and not just in the UK. For me it’s all about the product, adding value and looking at how books can evolve and offer more. We enjoy and rise to the challenges of difficult, demanding work as the end results are well worth the effort.’