1st Byte expands finishing with UK's first Newbind Pioneer PUR binder

The machine was installed as an extension of 1^st Byte’s recently established Creative Services Division, which offers hardback case binding, foam cutting, spot clear varnish and embossing capability.

The London-based company chose the machine because of its pressurised glue tanks, which require cleaning only after every fifth use. Time saved on cleaning has meant that the company can take on more work and turn jobs around quicker.

A3 long- and short-edge gluing requirements also ruled out a number of binders on the market and the Pioneer’s compact size and ease of use were essential to the decision.

Print director Stuart Williams said: "We are getting new clients and the work is building up because of the Pioneer and the Creative Services Division. We are also taking on jobs from different departments within existing client companies, adding an extra stream of revenue for us."

He said that work brought in from the Creative Services Division currently accounted for around 10% of turnover within the company, but predicted that the figure would rise month on month until the end of the year.

The digital print company admitted it was "nervous" about entering the finishing market from a digital print background but said the Creative Services Division, which was set up with a team of five in August last year, had paid for itself two months after it started selling in January.

1^st Byte managing director Lawrence Dalton said: "In the past we tended not to go down this route but now that we have realised what a growing and profitable market it is, I should have introduced it long ago.

"It is an ideal add-on for our customer base, who are mainly corporate and agencies."

Williams said the company was able to commit to keeping skills and work in-house as a result of the Creative Services Division and new Pioneer PUR binder. He said 1^st Byte was now outsourcing "very little", including litho, foil blocking and die cutting work.

It is the latest in a series of investments which have seen the company acquire a Watkiss Spinemaster and place orders for a B2 Landa digital press and an HP Indigo 7600.