The range marks the company's entry into the perfect binder market.

The collating and booklet-making specialist will become the first UK firm to offer the Lamibind 340, 380 (pictured) and 420 perfect binders. According to the firm, the machines, which are manufactured in Hungary by Rigo, have proved popular in Continental markets.

Each of the 260 books (450 cycles) per hour perfect binders is hand-fed, and uses thermoplastic glue. The maximum book thickness is 50mm. The maximum paper length the models can handle is 340mm, 380mm and 420mm respectively. Prices range from 5,000 to 14,000.

"We want to be able to offer our customer the means to produce books that are thicker than is possible with a stitch fold trim line," said Watkiss sales director Paul Attew. "The Lamibind range perfectly compliments our collators and booklet makers."

- Last week at Print 05 in Chicago, Kodak NexPress announced an agreement to offer Watkiss' BookletMaker as the first inline finishing kit for its NexPress 2100 plus and 2500 digital colour presses.

The system can be implemented either inline, with a connecting bridge, or offline for standalone operation.

Kodak is looking to run the online configuration at a couple of beta sites over the coming months.

Story by Ben Bold