Muller Martini showcased its new Presto II Digital saddle stitcher at the Hunkeler Innovationdays trade fair in Lucerne this month, producing three different print products live and without interruption stitcher.
With high-performance inkjet digital printing establishing itself in the field of high-quality color printing too and sizes of print runs for magazines, journals and brochures continuing to fall, Muller Martini presented the Presto II Digital to trade visitors in Lucerne as a new industrial finishing solution for digitally printed products. Three different products were produced live and without interruption at Muller Martini’s trade fair stand. If necessary, covers could be fed to match a specific copy.
Muller Martini presented a Presto II Digital line, consisting of a high-performance processing folder, two signature feeders, a cover folder feeder, a stitching machine and a three-knife trimmer, in combination with an unwinding system, a fold/merge module and a cross cutting machine from Hunkeler.
A Lot of Expertise in a Small Space
Paul M. Wasanga, CEO of the Kenya National Examination Council, says he is is convinced that “such inline systems are what the market needs.”
Wasanga considers it “a highly innovative solution that saves on a lot of space.” According to the CEO of the Kenya National Examination Council in Nairobi, who visited the Hunkeler Innovationdays for the first time, the market is in need of precisely such inline systems. “Digital printing alone is not efficient enough – it requires the right finishing for the seamless completion of print products. When I see solutions like the Presto II Digital, I am convinced that there is still potential for digitally printed, saddle-stitched products.”
There is no question that new printing technologies will be successful, according to Patrick Douglas-Meis of PDM International in Toronto, who made the trip from Canada to attend the trade fair in Lucerne: “Digital printing is growing rapidly, and anyone who isn’t focusing on it will pay for it later – and that time will come earlier than they expect.” The printing expert with many years of experience at large graphic arts businesses believes that the Hunkeler Innovationdays trade fair presented an ideal opportunity to gain an overview of the technical state of the art: “There was a lot of expertise concentrated in a small space, with many decision-makers in attendance, including from abroad.”
“Saddle Stitching for Digital Printing Will Continue to Gain in Importance”
That is why Petr Romanov, Chief Technologist at JSC First Model Printing House in Moscow, spent four days at the trade fair in Lucerne: “Unlike drupa, where the entire spectrum of the graphic arts industry is present, at the Hunkeler Innovationdays I specifically studied digital solutions and could take a more detailed look at various machines. Technicians from various manufacturers took their time to explain their systems in detail.”
JSC First Model Printing House already produces digitally printed hardcover and softcover books on a SigmaLine, consisting of a SigmaFolder and SigmaCollator. The products are finished on a Diamant MC 60 bookline and a Ventura MC book sewing machine from Muller Martini as well as on an older perfect binder. “I came to Lucerne to find out about the options offered by saddle stitching for digital printing, since I’m confident that this market will continue to gain in importance.”
Quasi Selective Binding
Dragan Volic, Marketing Director for Print Finishing Systems at Muller Martini, feels that the trade fair has been highly successful: “I’m very satisfied with the high quality of visitors and the great interest in our solution. Muller Martini has clearly confirmed its position as market leader in the finishing of digital print products by expanding its range of digital solutions with a flexible saddle stitcher.”
According to Adrian Mayr, “many visitors to our stand are surprised by the wide range in the number of digitally printed signatures that can be processed on the Presto II Digital without interruption”. The Muller Martini Product Manager points out that the saddle stitching systems from Muller Martini have attracted a lot of attention, in particular the individual feeding of different covers as well as the feeding of conventionally printed signatures. “With the barcode system (AsirCode), which is used to switch the signatures in and out from product to product, we virtually offered selective binding.” Many customers have also been impressed by the configuration of the saddle stitcher with two length folds. This solution, which is one of a kind on the market, enables a high net output in small sizes (A6) in two-up production.
Visitors to the trade fair from all over the world were not only interested in the live production at Muller Martini’s stand, but also by the Connex data and process management system presented there. Connex really comes into its own if the saddle stitcher is used as a fully integrated inline solution (digital printing with finishing), as it ensures seamless interplay and optimum control of all aggregates.