After a tough couple of years, there are signs the folder and folder gluers manufacturing sector is finally starting to pick up.

Manufacturers and suppliers are reporting greater levels of interest from printers, and consequently sales are on the rise.

"The first half of 2010 was difficult, but the past six months have shown a definite improvement," says Friedheim International UK and Ireland sales manager Stuart Bamford.

Not all manufacturers feel the market is on secure footing yet, however. Company failures brought about by the recession have led to a high number of secondhand machines becoming available, says M Partners director Murray Lock.

"Where standard folding is required they are an obvious first choice for many printers and finishers," he explains.

Increased automation
Most agree that the level of automation required on a folder should be down to the run length and type of print job involved. Digital print, with its typically short-runs, has especially benefitted from advances in automation.

"Automation has affected every area of the bindery since Horizon launched its icon-based touchscreen controlled range of saddlestitchers, perfect binders and folding systems at Ipex 2002," claims Alan Harrison, technical director at Intelligent Finishing Systems, the UK distributor for the Horizon machines.

"While other areas may require changes in planning and production methods, or be dependent on developing new markets, every printer has an existing folding requirement, so automated folding systems have been welcomed with enthusiasm," adds Harrison.

Automation has undoubtedly made machinery simpler to use, but that doesn’t mean operator training is less important than it once was. Most manufacturers and suppliers provide training and in-house support for customers – Friedheim’s MBO Folding School, for instance, offers training for people with all levels of folding experience.

Some go as far to say operator skill remains the most important element of the folding operation, and M Partners’ Lock believes printers and print finishers are beginning to appreciate this. According to Lock, training that enables companies to get the best out of their operation is increasingly sought after.

"We have seen a considerable growth in demand for training with our demonstrators visiting customer sites to provide practical real-life productivity audit programmes," Lock explains. "The aim of our training is to provide an immediate payback to our customer’s investment. Getting the most from the folder operators with investment in customised training support can have a better return than seeking expensive automation," he adds.

When purchasing new folders or folder gluers it’s worth talking to several trusted sellers to get a full picture of the market and the kind of technology that’s available. Very few printers are without folders these days, so it’s imperative to have the right equipment for your business.

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WHAT'S NEW IN…
• Gilmex International bought a Eurofold high-speed folder as part of a £200,000 investment in Duplo finishing kit. The move follows the installation of a Xerox iGen4, which is the centrepiece of the company’s expansion into print production
• In November, UK digital finishing kit specialist Morgana Systems said its exports were up 30% year-on-year, while UK demand was returning. The DigiFold Pro combined creaser-folder in particular was receiving a lot of interest, claimed the company
• Finishing equipment manufacturer Brandtjen & Kluge launched the Mailfold automatic folder gluer last October. The company says the machine is aimed at printers that want to produce a cost-effective mailer regardless of its simplicity or complexity
• In March, Chesapeake Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Packaging installed what it claims is the UK’s most sophisticated folder. The GUK FA53 14-plate, two-knife machine, supplied by M Partners, is capable of handling sheets sizes of up to B1