"It's a very solid piece of kit, it just looked like something that wasn't going to break down," said 3D joint managing director David Moyse.

Prior to the 26,000 binder going in the London-based firm outsourced its binding work. "Now we have perfect binding in-house we don't just save money on our outwork bill, we retain quality control and improve turnaround times," said Moyse.

The level of automation and the BQ-270's ability to handle digital stock was what swung the firm to invest in the Horizon. "The automated set-ups are excellent, to the point where run-lengths in single figures are viable," said Moyse.

The automated scoring also impressed Moyse. The fact that it scores either side of the initial spine means that when the finished book is opened the cover is not stressed, and therefore is more durable.
Since the Horizon, supplied by UK agent Graphic Arts Equipment, went in the firm's perfect bound work has increased from 500 to 5,000-10,000 items per month.

Based on this Moyse believes that the binder could pay for itself within three months. "We don't need much volume to make it viable," he said.

Other pieces of kit in the firm's investment programme included a GBC Ultra punch, for comb binding work, and a Duplo bookletmaker. "We've beefed up our finishing area, so it now runs 24 hours a day, five days a week," said Moyse.

In October the 3m turnover firm hit the 1m impressions per month mark on its Xerox iGen3 that was installed over the summer. The production of 57,500 personalised horoscope booklets for the Daily Mail, which were bound on the BQ-270, helped hit the target.

Story by Darryl Danielli