Davenport, Iowa Printers and binders throughout the worldwide marketplace rely on Muller Martini's technical innovation and machine engineering excellence to speed production, broaden capabilities and increase profit opportunities. Among the Muller Martini customers who have achieved all of those benefits is Fidlar Printing, a high-end commercial printer. Recently, Fidlar Printing installed a Muller Martini Presto saddle stitcher and the machine has helped enhance business at Fidlar in several ways. "The Presto reduced set-up time, doubled our stitching throughput, increased capacity and added new capability. It also eliminated the offline folding of covers," says Bob Barstow, Plant Manager at Fidlar Printing. "We can now take on more work, provide faster turns and higher quality." The new Presto saddle stitcher at Fidlar Printing replaced a 20-year old Muller Minute Man unit. "Our customers rely on Fidlar to produce their product right and on time...and this requires the reliability of a Muller Martini saddle stitcher," says Mr. Barstow. "We chose the Presto based on company reputation, reliability of our previous Muller stitcher and service support." The fact that the 9,000 cycle per hour Presto saddle stitcher is a sturdy and dependable investment for small to medium size run lengths is one of several features that Fidlar Printing likes about the machine. Presto also handles an extensive assortment of different size books encompassing standard products ranging in size from 12" x 14 3/8" to 4 1/8" x 4/18" (3 1/8" x 3 1/8" with accessories), enabling Fidlar to offer its customers a diverse array of choices. In addition, Presto operates in 1:1 or 1:2 modes, providing the capability to run difficult signatures or to maintain high speed productivity when loading bulky projects. Presto also features automated menu-guided PLC controls and easy touchscreen operation. With Presto, make-readies and changeovers can be completed quickly, enabling faster job turnarounds while allowing more diverse projects to be scheduled in a shorter amount of time. To meet the requirements of growing operations, Presto offers expansion up to a maximum of 6 twin feeders. Other benefits of the Presto saddle stitcher include Muller Martini flying stitching heads to assure precise stitching and to reduce wear, as well as a Semko side caliper and missing stitch detector technology to further ensure optimum quality. The Presto saddle stitcher also features an in-line three-knife trimmer along with an efficient Apollo compensating stacker...and it offers the advantages of a high/low folio, gripper and suction opening, and flat loading feeders.