Finishing & Screen Printing
Newsquest Orders Innovative Strapping Solution From WRH Marketing UK For Brighton Site
Friday 01. February 2008 - WRH Marketing UK Ltd has secured an order from Newsquest (Sussex) Ltd for nine JobStrap strapping machines and five TCT bundle turners at its Brighton site.
The equipment, which will be installed in January 2008, will replace the existing strappers and turntables that have come to the end of their life cycles. The order also constitutes the final phase of the technology upgrade of the companys whole mailroom, which commenced two years ago with the installation of two bespoke, state-of-the-art Ferag lines, including RollSert and MultiStack units integrated with Affeldt bundle conveying equipment.
Ian Hunter, Group Production Manager, Newsquest (Sussex) Ltd, commented: “We managed to wring a further two years service out of the current strappers, but were now replacing them as theyre over 15 years old, spare parts are difficult to obtain and theyve become a source of downtime in the mailroom.”
When deciding what replacement equipment to buy, Hunter followed the companys standard procurement process, evaluated what was available on the market and settled on the JobStrap and TCT bundle turner from WRH Marketing UK.
“We were impressed,” he said, “by the JobStraps ease of operation – the touch screen is very straightforward and user friendly – and by the ease of access for servicing and repairs. As the equipment uses single phase units that have an auto sleep mode, which powers down each unit when its not being used, running costs and energy efficiency are also excellent. The new and unique design of the TCT bundle turner, which obviates the need for conventional guarding, also makes access for maintenance very easy. Of course, purchase price was a major consideration, but the equipment came in well below budget and, in my opinion, represents excellent value for money. Even the 5 mm “JobPoP” strapping material used is of a very light grammage, so that its cheaper and we can buy a lot more for our money.”
The JobStrap can be used in the line as a tandem cross strapping system for securing newspapers and magazines, or as a stand-alone machine for the application of single, parallel or cross straps. Producing up to 25 bundles per minute thanks to powerful servo motors and fast strap cycle time, the JobStrap uses variable-speed dual infeed belts and triple exit belts to guarantee optimum control of the bundle. The unique design of the TCT bundle turner turns the bundles through 90 degrees without using a conventional turntable, yet the system retains a single or parallel strap back-up facility while a strap coil is being changed.
Hunter continues: “Not only do the products make a compelling proposition, but our experiences of working with WRH Marketing UK have also been very good, so there are clearly benefits to us in staying with them. Their installation of the Ferag lines two years ago was completed without any problems, and we liked their solution approach of specifying the system, installing and commissioning it and then training our people on it. Im therefore very comfortable that, if any issue does arise during the installation of the new equipment, the strength of our relationship will facilitate a rapid and satisfactory resolution.”
Marcus Evans, the managing director of WRH Marketing UK, is delighted with the order: “We believe there is a significant market for our JobFolio products, which offer an exceptional cost benefit ratio, improving both productivity and profits. The fact that Newsquest (Sussex) Ltd is comfortable with installing the JobStrap strapping systems straight into their mailroom is a great vote of confidence in the equipments robust build quality and its ability to function efficiently on a full Ferag line and match the output of the MultiStack stacker they have installed.”