Micropress has upgraded its stitching capacity with a fully kitted out Muller Martini Primera Pro stitching line.
The six-station machine comes with stream feeders on each station and on the cover feeder. The ability to add a single- or two-hole punches will simplify production of calendars and school workbooks and ring binder materials. The installation comes as the Micropress Press Print online portal gathers speed. It focuses on saddle stitched products.
Production director Paul Coby says: “The new line improves productivity through the stream feeders and provides much needed stitching capacity during our busiest periods. As a showroom model it’s a high specification line with all the features we expect from a state of the art system.”
The machine became available due to a complete reconfiguration of the Muller Martini Print Finishing Centre. This now showcases Hunkeler equipment as well as Muller Martini systems using Connex to manage the workflow. The line up of equipment also reflects Muller Martini’s decision to end production of sewing machines and its Sigmaline digital book finishing system in favour of the Hunkeler equivalent. The Primera is being replaced by the latest model.
This is the second Primera Pro at Micropress to have stream feeders. These enable the line to run faster and reduces manning levels. It replaces an older Primera Pro with conventional hopper feeders and runs alongside the other four feeder Primera and a high specification Horizon StitchLiner.
The finishing line follows on from installation of a Heidelberg Jetfire 50 at the start of the year, which followed on from a long perfecting XL106 installed last year. This will provide the capacity to take turnover to £34 million this year.
Joint managing director Rob Cross says: “ This addition comes at an exciting time for Micropress, with the launch of Press Print and continued growth in our traditional print business. We also anticipate a greater foothold in the school workbook market, thanks to the new two-hole punch capability.”
