Short run digital book specialist CMP (UK) of Poole, Dorset has brought its case binding in-house with the installation of a Fastbind Casematic A46z casemaker and a Pressomatic groove-making machine from Ashgate Automation.
Targeting publishers and self-publishers, the all-digital print operation uses Canon colour and mono toner presses, supported by a bindery that offers perfect binding, square-back saddle stitching, lamination/foiling and coil and wire binding.
‘Outsourcing of case binding has worked well for us and we have been very pleased with the quality of our hardback products,’ said operations director Richard Johnson, adding, ‘By investing in our own facility we now have more control and flexibility. This works well for split editions, short runs and tight deadlines.’
CMP explored several options, having first seen the Fastbind Casematic A46z and the Fastbind Pressomatic at a trade show two years ago. ‘We liked everything about the machine from its price to the simplicity of its operation but, above all, the great quality of the finished book.’ explained Mr Johnson.
An on-site demonstration of the binder in late 2021 convinced Mr Johnson and owner and managing director Paul Dawe, who commented, ‘We see our place as a dual supplier to a range of publishers who have a need for a reactive service for reprints and short run titles. Many of our publishing clients will batch numerous titles together to achieve scales of economy on their shorter runs, this can now apply to case-bound titles too.
‘We are optimistic that as well as benefiting from all of the advantages of bringing hardback book binding in-house, the ROI should be within the first year,’ he added.
