Kentec has halved the time it takes to insert most C4 jobs with the installation of a third Mailmaster envelope inserter from KAS Paper Systems.

The four station KAS 465HS C4/C5/DL machine replaces a Mailmaster 465 which Kentec bought soon after setting up business in 2006. In 2015 it purchased a three station Mailmaster565HS C5/DL inserter. As well as the KAS inserters, Kentec also has two poly wrappers, two inkjet printers for personalisation labels, two folders and a tabbing machine.

The company, based in Tunbridge Wells, offers a wide range of specialist services to printers, marketing and advertising agencies locally and as far afield as Japan. These include direct mail, print management, variable data, laser and inkjet printing, envelope enclosure, poly wrapping, machine folding, hand finishing and mail preparation.  

‘We can handle anything from one newsletter, a mail run of a million, a regular full colour publication and typically up to four to five inserts,’ said Nick Hall, production manager. ‘Although most of our jobs are inserted into C5 envelopes because of the economy of postage, we do have regular C4 work. The KAS 465HS gives us the flexibility to use both formats. It’s a much faster machine with a quicker set up and changeover and more onscreen options than its predecessor. We have a really good rapport with our customers. Most of our work is planned in advance but this machine will give us the extra capacity to take on more work, including those last minute, unexpected jobs. From time to time we do have a customer who wants a very quick turn round and we try to help them wherever possible.’

Kentec didn’t look at any competitive inserters before placing their order with KAS. ‘We know the company, we know the equipment, its reliability and the service that KAS provides,’ Mr Hall explained. ‘They decided not to specify bespoke features like a camera reading system, which can be retrofitted should the volume of workload require it in the future. The camera system reads OMR, 1D and 2D barcodes, merging and matching of two or more streams of personalised documentation, diverting of filled envelopes before sealing, envelope marking, document tracking and integrity checking. Job control and reporting software is also an option, which provides further on-screen run information and facilitates job control, document tracking, data storage and reporting.’