Cliftons invests in foil blocking

Trade finisher Cliftons has brought foil-blocking in-house after investing in a Yawa TDS-750 automatic foil-stamping, die-cutting and embossing machine.

The device, which is additional to the London-based firm’s existing plant list, was bought from Terry Cooper Services (TCS) for £80,000. It is being installed at the company’s 650sqm premises this week.

Cliftons managing director Tim Clifton said: “We used to spend about £7,000 a month on foil blocking and we just figured that it’s something that’s worth bringing in-house now for the spend that we’re making.”

The £1.5m-turnover business looked at alternatives before making its final decision on the Yawa device, which it particularly liked because of the die-cutting facility.

The TDS-750 has a maximum speed of 2,500sph and can handle a maximum sheet size of 560x750mm. The machine, which has four independent heating zones and two cross foil pulls, is suitable for running paper, cardboard, corrugated board and plastic sheets.

“We’re hoping this investment will increase our turnover, it allows us to do something different than just being a standard case-binding and PUR outfit – we wanted to add value and create something to compete in that marketplace,” said Clifton.

In the past two years 18-staff Cliftons has invested more than £1m on new kit, including a Perfecta Premium Line N 115 guillotine and a Horizon BQ-470 PUR perfect binder, both of which came in last year.

The firm’s other kit includes a Muller Martini Pantera PUR binder, two Kisun layflat binders and Stahl and Horizon folders.