Imaging Solutions AG (ISAG) released a new version of the bookbinding machine fastBlock for industrial production of XXL landscape photo books and other large sized photo products, such as calendars or greeting cards.

This improved fastBlock system provides landscape book blocks up to 450 millimeter (17.7 inches) for impressive panoramic photo books.

Another new feature of this bookbinding machine is the new cardboard feeder for automatic supply of single cardboards. The new fastBlock system features are available with immediate effect.

High-Quality Photo Finishing for Premium Markets

The large book size of 450 millimeter width (open book: 900 millimeter) meets the rising consumer demands regarding individual photo books in exclusive designs.

Extraordinary moments of holidays, weddings and other events will be preserved on impressive panoramic images. The featured LayFlat binding offers seamless image sizes up to 900 millimeter (35.4 inches). Photos are not meant to be split by a gutter or separated by a gap.

With this kind of presentation, new marketing tools for luxury products, such as sports cars or yachts can be explored. In the photography sector of people shooting, interesting opportunities come along, for example images of babies in original size 1:1.

Fully Automatic and Economical Production of LayFlat Photo Books

The ISAG fastBlock system is a 5-in-1 solution. A complete book block is produced in just one work step: cutting, creasing, folding, pressing and gluing. Orders are detected via punch mark or via barcode.

With fastBlock, the correct order of sheets is ensured automatically. No manually preliminary sorting of cardboard is necessary. Sheet damages or rejects can also be avoided.

Additionally to the optional sheet feeder for pre-folded paper, a new cardboard feeder option from ISAG is available with immediate effect.

Processing book blocks with cardboards make the XXL photo books even fancier and provide a noble design and special haptics.

The fastBlock bookbinding system is space-saving and optimizes the complete workflow. Cycle times will be reduced and productivity increased.

fastBlock produces 80 XXL book blocks per hour (example with 26 pages per book, size 300 x 450 mm). With a capacity of 500 - 600 sheets provided by the new cardboard feeder, up to 50 photo books per hour can be processed when using cardboards with a thickness of 0.35 millimeter.

Another benefit of the fastBlock bookbinding machine are reduced labor costs, due to diminished employment of operating personnel.

Photo labs and other producers of photo books can benefit immediately from the economical advantages of the fastBlock system, and are now able to offer their customers the luxury of individual and extraordinary LayFlat photo books in XXL format.

Interested companies and professionals from the photo finishing industry can experience the outstanding performance of the fastBlock at a live demonstration in Regensdorf (Switzerland).