Hunkeler’s own star for the Hunkeler Innovation Days was the Starbook, a high speed next generation book block producing machine employing two plowfolders and connected to smart logistics to collect the finished blocks and to transport them to binding.
The company showed two implementations of the technology during the event, one able to run at 250m/min and the other at 150m/min. The units will also run both 59cm and 76cm webs, either inline or in a nearline set up. During the show, Hunkeler demonstrated the second version running non stop thanks to an automated reel changer, which is also applicable ahead of a print engine.
“The 250m/min Starbook will be capable of producing 2,000 single books an hour,” says Friedheim International’s national sales manager Robin Brown. “That is a book every 1.8 seconds. It can deliver a stack of book blocks or can run inline to a binder.”
The Starbook will implement a format change according to details logged in a 2D barcode. This triggers a change in format, from four to six page or eight page sections using one or two plows with cameras mounted above the plow edge to ensure accuracy of registration.
The cut off length is in the hands of the existing DynaCut technology which changes the length on the fly. The plow position is not quite so rapid says Brown. “The plows will move into a new position within three minutes. Hunkeler expects to be able to bring that down in future.”
The slower version is less expensive and delivers to two rather than three stackers and will produce 1,000 books an hour at a rate of one every 3.7 seconds.
The Starbook is a development of the existing Bookline’s, implementing learning that came with the earlier machine. This includes smaller registration marks and ready these ahead of the plow to enable micro movements to keep everything in precise registration.
Brown anticipates the high speed version will be used by major book printers while the slower version will suit printers with a limited range of formats. “A lot of printers are happy to stay with just A4 or A5 formats so will only need the version with a single plow section and this will keep the investment down. This also has a narrower cutter as the web has been folded before it needs to be cut,” says Brown.
Away from publishing, the DP8 ran with full dynamic perforations and scoring while the latest versions of the Docutrim could be found on Canon and Xerox stands as well as its own.
