The Suffolk-based printer has used the new kit to move away from stitch-binding its short-run work and increase the flexibility of its bindery.
The Total Print Finishing Services-supplied machine is a cold glue binder that offers a binding speed of up to 170 books per hour with a maximum thickness of 36mm.
Printwise managing director Paul McGerty said the company needed a machine to produce short-run perfect bound books economically, "but with a quality finish to match those produced on our two high-volume production binding machines".
The kit can bind both litho and digitally-printed stock, while the cold glue application proved a selling point for the machine.
Paul McGerty said: "In the past we have also experienced problems binding digital paper with hot glue machines, which can often result in wavy edged books.
He added the new binder offers "excellent lay-flat characteristics which our clients value".
Printwise, established in 1972, also runs finishing kit including an 18-station Muller Martini perfect binder, a Lamtex TM720 thermal laminator and two Heidelberg Stahl folders.
Printwise takes on short-run perfect binding with Planax
Printwise has made a foray into short-run perfect binding with a Planax Perfect-Binder FII after establishing a need to match the quality and cost-effectiveness of the firm's high-volume production binders.
