Blackwell Print has enhanced its inhouse perfect binding and trade service offering following investment in a Horizon BQ-270V single clamp perfect binder from Intelligent Finishing Systems (IFS).




The Norfolk full service printer that was founded in 1870, produces litho print on a Heidelberg XL75 four colour press and digital print on two Xerox Versants 4100s.

Managing Director Tom Davidson explains the investment decision: “We had a table top binder for short runs and were sending out longer runs. It was time to invest in a system that could complete more work inhouse. Horizon is a go to name and when we had a look around lots of businesses were running the Horizon BQ-270V. It is a robust machine and very easy to get to grips with for anyone who is not experienced in operating it.”

As for the impact it has made on the business Tom states: “I don’t like sending jobs out. We have experienced some losses in the past. Paper doesn’t travel well and there are costs involved with outsourcing. I prefer to keep as much as we can in-house and this allows us to do that. In fact, where 20% of our perfect binding used to be completed in-house, now 80% is.”
The Horizon BQ-270V single clamp perfect binder offers high quality perfect binding and on demand production of variable thickness books. It includes an automated, sensor activated digital caliper system which measures the book block thickness and automatically transfers this data to the binder for quick, automated set-up for books of different thicknesses. It features a large 10.4″ intelligent colour touchscreen, job programming, and a compact configuration.

The new addition has settled in well and already opened doors to new opportunities: “In the few weeks it has been running we have already completed 10,000 to 12,000 books. It has also enabled us to offer a trade service, which is something we hadn’t considered until a local business came to us asking for our trade prices. As a result, we expect it to achieve return on investment in six to eight months.”

Tom adds: “It is top drawer. It runs really well and is a great machine. It is exactly what we hoped it would be.”

www.ifsl.uk.com