Tried & Tested

That the Duplo System 2000 has racked up a load of sales since its launch nearly eight years ago is a testament to its longevity – more than 100 units have been sold nationwide since it was unveiled at Drupa 2000.

A rise in combination print rooms that contain both litho and digital presses, mean the market was ready for the entry-level hybrid bookletmaker Duplo was offering. Designed to bridge the gap between the firm’s lower- and high-end products, the machine was aimed at government inplants, copy shops and colleges.

The system consisted of three units: the DC-8/32 and DC-10/60 suction-fed collators; the DBM-120/120T dynamic bookletmaker and trimmer; and the DC-12 JR jogger.

Durability is one of the advantages of the machine. “We have customers who have had their machines for around eight years, which is a disadvantage to us,” says Peter Jolly, Duplo International UK marketing manager.

Increased appeal
On the bookletmakers, a fully automatic detection system eliminates wastage by ensuring incomplete sets are diverted into the reject tray. Faulty sets can then be simply corrected and fed into the DBM-120. Out-of-staple sensors stop the machine when the carriage is empty, ensuring only completed books are produced. Users can also change between different booklet sizes using the control panel for automatic set-up.

There were modifications shortly after its launch to give the machine more appeal in the digital print market. The near-line System 2000 had a sheet feeder to take in digital stock instead of a collator. Because digital machines take away the need for a collator, the sheet feeder allowed the machine to take both digital and litho substrate covers. This made it a success in print rooms running one- or two-colour litho presses and a mid-range digital machine.

In 2004, further improvements were made to the machine, taking its output from 2,000 A5 booklets per hour to 2,400. The feed on the DC-10/60 collator was also improved in 2006.

Easily upgraded
Last year, Duplo launched its new three-tier service contract, Tandem. On the highest level, called Comfort, a replacement machine is provided in the case of a breakdown, and engineers are on hand to help make up the shortfall if the operator isn’t trained on that particular model. On the lowest level, Excellence, an engineer will be provided, with spares and parts included and two maintenance visits a year.

Duplo has more than 20 engineers and £1m worth of spare parts in stock at its Surrey headquarters. The System 2000 can be easily upgraded to a System 5000, and taken back as part exchange. Duplo also offers fully refurbished System 2000s at around £12,000 with a single tower and jogger.
A new System 2000 with a single tower and jogger will cost £25,700. If buying used from a dealer, Jolly warns to “check the belts’ quality, and that speed is operating at the level it should be”. The accuracy of the staple and feeding is also one to look for as it can cause jams.