Folders and folder-gluers

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If a week is a long time in politics, a year is pretty much a lifetime in the folders and folder-gluer market. In 2007, high levels of investment went into standalone mid-range to high-end machines, but as 2008 drew to a close and the credit crunch hit the sector, more and more companies were looking to bring their offline machines online.

The trend moved towards consolidation of processors, says Bobst product manager for UK and Ireland, Lee Alton. You can incorporate folding, gluing and window patching at the same time.

While the industry is bringing its kit inline, the demands placed on printers and finishers is unrelenting. In some sectors there is pressure to design products that contain realms of information for the consumer. The pharmaceutical industry is just one example of a sector in which jobs are becoming increasingly complicated.

Complex fold patterns
Patient information leaflets are getting ever more complex, explains Murray Lock, joint managing director of M Partners. Legislation is forcing pharmaceutical companies to include more information, meaning a larger printed sheet. However, the sheets still need to fit in the same sized packs as before so more complex fold patterns are required.

But it’s not just the jobs themselves that can cause headaches. According to Encore managing director Mike Biggs, many jobs need to be creased prior to folding due to the increased use of recycled papers and digitally printed stock. These changes have led to the steady decline for conventional B1 signature folding machines and a marked increase in demand for SRA3 and B2 folders with online platen type creasing and perforating units, says Biggs.

So, what should companies look out for when investing? The best starting point is to choose an established brand with a good track record, support and back-up. Training might be worth considering although the machines hitting the market are very simple and quick to use. But Alton argues that this shouldn’t be overlooked. You cannot design an experienced operator, he points out.

Over the past 10 years there has been a decline in experienced technicians coming into the industry because the training isn’t there, adds Alton.

There is also variation between how different substrates need to be prepared for folding and gluing. Machines can be tailored to suit a variety of materials.

WHAT'S NEW IN... FOLDERS AND FOLDER-GLUERS

• GUK distributor M Partners has released the GUK FA 53, a 14-folder plate machine designed specifically for larger sheet sizes in the pharmaceutical sector, with tolerances of just 1mm

• Kama launched its Kama ProFold 74 this month, designed to fit with any Kama die-cutter. The machine can fold and glue a large range of sizes and forms of pockets and envelopes with varying flaps in a single run

• Bobst will launch its Ambition folder-gluer to the UK and Irish markets at the end of this month. The machine is for the production of folders, wallets, CD and DVD sleeves, brochures as well as cartons (see page 12)

• Sheffield-based printer ProCo installed a digital folding line from Morgana in December after winning a major new deal.
The B2 company invested in a DigiFold 5000P combined creaser/folder, which will handle work produced on the company’s three HP Indigo 7000 digital presses

Click here to view the  Buyers' Guide tables for folders and folder-gluers