Finishing & Screen Printing
Hobbs buys four more machines from Heidelberg
Wednesday 20. April 2011 - Hobbs the Printers has bolstered production with the addition of four new machines from Heidelberg, a new Speedmaster SM 102-2+P two-colour perfector, two Polar 115X Plus guillotines and a Stahlfolder KH 82 with pallet feeder.
Although each machine replaces a similarly sized model, the latest technology is seen as an advance. Rival equipment was assessed in each case before buying decisions were made.
Hobbs the Printers has four Speedmaster SM 102-2+P, the last one installed two years ago. The company depreciates its presses over seven years but once again it has come back to the SM 102 as the ideal press for its books and journals production.
“The automation levels on these presses are very high and we are very pleased with them,” says Graham Bromley, deputy managing director. “The productivity and quality is driven by the automation and we also like the fact that Heidelberg can provide the breadth and depth of service to support their machines. They have worked in partnership with us on practical and effective maintenance programmes.”
The latest Polar X115 Plus guillotines replace similar width machines but mark a debut with the latest touchsceeen technology.
“This is our fourth generation Polar guillotine. They are robust and reliable workhorses and to buy this make again was a very easy decision,” says Mr Bromley.
A major leap forward in folding technology was identified when Hobbs compared its existing KD 78 with the new semi-automatic KH 82. The semi-automatic combination folder is ideal for the companys short run (200 copies plus), high pagination and multiple changeover work. This will be one of six folders employed by the company, four of them Stahlfolders.
“We looked at other products but the level of automation on the KH 82 is exactly right,” says Mr Bromley. Hobbs has opted for the pallet feeder which makes materials handling easy and increases productivity and throughput.
Hobbs the Printers is based in Southampton but works nationally and internationally with publishers, transport companies, schools, professional bodies and others. It works to deliver the highest product and service standards.