Machine operator, Mike Holland
Fine Print, Stockport, is expecting a return of investment in less than 18 months after expanding its bindery with a B2 Foliant Taurus 530SF laminator from IFS.
The family run business made the decision to invest in lamination equipment after installing a Ricoh Pro C751 digital press to run alongside its B2 Komori Lithrone and Heidelberg Printmaster.
Lee Tilley, son of the company founder, Jack Tilley, who is in charge of the day-to-day operation of the company along with his brother Scott, said, ‘Demand was increasing for short run lamination work and we didn’t have a way of doing it ourselves so we were outsourcing it. This involves a minimum set-up charge and so it wasn’t really cost-effective. We thought it would make sound business sense to bring it in-house. It turns out we took the decision at just the right time. Since the investment our suppliers have increased their charges. We had expected to achieve a return on investment in 18 months but now I think we will be able to achieve that sooner.’
There were a number of reasons why the Foliant Taurus was chosen by Fine Print, Mr Tilley explained: ‘We liked the level of automation and the sheet size. Initially we were looking at SRA3 but that would have not covered all our work, meaning we would still have needed to outsource half the work and keep half the work in-house. The B2 system covers everything.’
‘Our turnaround times are faster. Now when a customer sends us a job it can be printed in the morning and out the door in the afternoon. We can schedule more work now as well, so I think the laminator will make a difference to our business in the long term too.’
