NEW HORIZONS FOR GREENRIDGE
Greenridge Press has expanded its in-house capabilities by investing in Horizon’s iCE Binder BQ-500 and the inline Horizon HT-80 Three-knife Trimmer, both supplied by Currie Group.
The company says the strategic move aims to enhance production efficiency and maintain stringent quality control standards. Greenridge is a prominent provider of general commercial printing, packaging, and sign and display products located in Toowoomba, Qld.
Historically, Greenridge outsourced its bookbinding processes. However, due to significant business growth and consolidation amongst external suppliers, the company identified the need to internalise this function. By bringing bookbinding in-house, Greenridge aims to improve turnaround times and ensure consistent quality for its clients, who are based in Toowoomba, across Queensland, and interstate.
The decision to invest in Horizon equipment was influenced by the brand’s reputation for robustness, automation, and user-friendly design, together with the technical support of Currie Group. Greenridge Press has a longstanding relationship with Horizon and Currie Group, which facilitated a comprehensive evaluation of the available options. “We sat down with the team, mapped out the process and analysed the jobs to get to the initial configuration.” said Michael Mostyn, QLD sales account manager for Currie Group.
“Horizon has progressively evolved to a systems or modular approach and not just individual products.” said Mostyn.
“The modular design of Horizon’s systems was particularly appealing to the team, offering scalability to accommodate future growth. For instance, you start with the foundation, a Horizon BQ-500 perfect binder, add a Horizon HT-80 three-knife trimmer inline, add a loose book block feeder, add folded section hoppers, and it has evolved into a MiniCabs system. As demand increases the system can be expanded. A full MiniCabs only requires one or two staff members to run it,” said Mostyn.
The Horizon iCE Binder BQ-500 supports both EVA and PUR hotmelt glue, providing flexibility in binding options. Mostyn says the system’s advanced automation features, including a 12.1-inch colour touchscreen and customisable templates, enable consistent high-quality output even with operators of varying skill levels. He said, “Itis renowned for its high productivity, especially in book-of-one production.”
Integrating the new binder and trimmer replaces the need for external suppliers andadds capacity to Greenridge’s operations. This investment is part of a broader strategy to enhance service delivery, offering clients quicker turnaround times and the potential for new types of work.
The advanced features of the new equipment will enable Greenridge to handle both offset and digital press outputs more efficiently, ensuring high-quality finishes across a diverse range of products.
According to Currie Group, automation solutions like the iCE Binder BQ-500 addresses skills shortages and increases productivity by simplifying operations and reduces reliance on specialised skills.
Currie Group says the strategic investment by Greenridge Press in Horizon’s advanced binding and trimming solutions underscores its commitment to quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. By embracing automation and modular scalability, the company is well-positioned to meet evolving market demands and continue its trajectory of growth.