Tried & Tested

With over 750 installations worldwide, the Tigra perfect binder proved to be a popular entry-level machine for book printers. The Muller Martini machine was unveiled in 1997 to replace the 1987 Panda perfect binder. The Tigra was a one-shot hot melt machine with traditional glue rollers submerged in a heated gluepot. This was connected to a pre-melter, with a separate gluepot for the side glue. After nine years of service, the Tigra was replaced by the Pantera, which was launched at Ipex 2006.

There were no major changes made to the Tigra during its life cycle but, according to dealers, its ease of set-up has meant continued demand. However, its modest speed of 3,600 books per hour has limited the machine to the entry-level sector.

The Tigra works by feeding gathered books by hand or from the gatherer, which are then run over a vibrator belt on to the infeed roller table. Here they get positioned in a hinge clamp and then are guided right away over the milling or roughing head, says Peter Freeman, used equipment division manager at Muller Martini.

High demand
Four line scoring prepares the cover before it is positioned on the oscillating nipping station table; the cover then gets pressed and nipped. Next the clamp opens and the book drops vertically on to the belt. At the end of the channel the book is directed either left or right and pushed gently into the horizontal position. What typically follows is a conveyor system leading into a three-knife trimmer, says Freeman.

Atlas Machinery is one of the firms that regularly deals in used Tigras. The model is always in demand but the price is affected by the age and type of three-knife trimmer attached, says Atlas managing director Steve Lamb. A typical 1997 12-station machine with an older Muller Martini 3670 trimmer would sell for around £85,000-£95,000. A 1999 model with Muller Martini Merit trimmer costs £110,000-£120,000. A 2002 line with Merit S is priced from £140,000-£150,000.

Muller Martini sells used machines with a six-month warranty. The company holds spares for 20 years from the last machine built. Muller will sell an old Tigra alongside new lines for companies who specify Muller binding equipment but have a limited budget.

Since 2000 the manufacturer has sold four fully refurbished lines in various configurations, most recently to Glasgow-based Thomson Colour Printers.

According to Muller, buyers should check the glue tank roller shaft seals and gears, clamp springs, cover feed scouring and transfer area for wear, which could affect book-to-cover alignment.

SPECIFICATIONS
Book width
Min: 100mm
Max: 285mm
Book thickness
Min: 2mm
Max: 40mm
Speed
Min: 1,000bph
Max: 3,000 bph
Used price
1997 12-station m/c with older MM 3670 trimmer: £85-95k
1999 model with Merit trimmer: £110-120k
2002 line with Merit S: £140k-150k
What to look for
• Wear on the glue tank roller shaft seals and gears, clamp springs, cover feed scoring and transfer area, which could affect book-to-cover alignment