Finishing & Screen Printing

New POLAR Cutter Keeps Universal Bookbindery a Cut Above

Tuesday 08. July 2008 - After recently trying out a competitive cutter, Universal Bookbindery decided to go back to its roots and purchase a new POLAR 115X cutter from Heidelberg.

“We just were not happy with the competitive cutter, so we went back to POLAR because we knew that it would work best for us,” President Tripp Worden said. The cutter was installed with a Transomat offloader, which is already increasing output for Universal Bookbindery. “We are gaining between 10 and 30 percent more throughput, and cutting 5-inch lifts,” Worden said. “The fact that we can achieve that level of productivity just solidifies that POLAR is the way to go for us.” The company, which runs two additional POLAR cutters in its bindery, also has two Stahlfolders from Heidelberg. “We are happy with Heidelberg all around – good durability, good design, and good features,” Worden stated. Acting as the first step in the finishing process, the cutter performs many functions for Universal Bookbindery. The company produces case-bound and perfect-bound books, as well as custom ring binders and a host of other finishing and binding specialties as a large trade bindery in San Antonio, Texas. The company, started in 1918 in Corpus Christi and relocated to San Antonio in 1923, has more than 90 employees, more than 80 years of experience, and runs two shifts for increased output. Current clients include commercial printers, publishers, music and entertainment industry professionals and an array of customers needing custom finishing work.