Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - At this year's OnDemand Conference & Expo held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Muller Martini once again illustrated why the company is the world leader in digital print finishing technologies engineered to save time, enhance production efficiencies and increase profit potential for graphic arts operations of all sizes. During the show, visitors to the Muller Martini exhibit viewed live demonstrations of components from the GATF InterTech award winning SigmaLine system...the world's first commercial-quality, totally modular, OnDemand digital book manufacturing solution. "The OnDemand show was an outstanding opportunity for the digital marketplace to get a first hand look at the kind of bottom line benefits that leading-edge digital print finishing technology can bring to their operations," said Andrew J. Fetherman, Manager, OnDemand Solutions Division, Muller Martini. "As cost factors, shorter runs and tighter production schedules become more and more challenging throughout our industry, book manufacturers need to implement new and innovative ideas that will help them gain important competitive advantages, while maintaining end-product quality." At the OnDemand show, the large contingent of attendees who visited the Muller Martini booth viewed SigmaLine technology producing high quality perfect-bound books right on the show floor. The demonstrations featured a near-line workflow comprised of the SigmaBinder perfect binder, SigmaTower cooling tower and the Esprit three-knife trimmer. SigmaBinder produces perfect-bound books at up to 1,000 fully variable-sized copies per hour, with hotmelt utilized for separate spine and side gluing. A built in measuring station utilizes laser technology to acquire the dimensions of the incoming book block. The electronic book size data is used to adjust the length, width and thickness settings of the binder. The result - the machine literally make-readies itself. Another demonstration at the OnDemand show was the Sigma Tower, which ensures proper cooling of perfect bound books and optimal curing of adhesives, as well as the Muller Esprit Three-Knife Trimmer, the ideal complement for perfect binding systems. Esprit boasts automated make-ready to reduce changeover times and to help lower costs in short runs. SigmaLine is a smart and agile investment for book production businesses. "Scaleable SigmaLine digital OnDemand technologies enable printers, binderies, inhouse operations and many other businesses to complement their existing book manufacturing capabilities by adding greater efficiency and diversity to individual areas of their operations. On the other hand, they can implement a whole new strategy by creating an entire OnDemand platform," continues Mr. Fetherman. The innovative Muller Martini SigmaLine consists of eight state-of-the-art modular components that are designed to be mixed and matched independently of one another or coordinated altogether as an entire digital system. Besides SigmaBinder and SigmaTower mentioned above, the full SigmaLine configuration also includes: SigmaPress totally integrated within the SigmaLine system, providing continuous-feed operation and printing each job in a single pass. SigmaFolder is a commercial-grade folder that produces signatures with extremely high accuracy. SigmaCollator gathers the folded signatures and instantly delivers them to the SigmaBinder for finishing. SigmaStitcher produces up to 6,000 saddlestitched products per hour and features fully automatic make-ready. And SigmaControl utilizes a JDF interface to combine and coordinate all functions of the printing and binding process...including a highly sophisticated job definition tool as well as intelligent production supervision with line performance management, product tracking, and management information that provides critical job status while allowing for automated format and job changes. SigmaLine is completely scaleable, with several complementing technologies that offer a wide assortment of options to book manufacturers, both now and as part of their future business strategies. "You could, for example, install just a SigmaBinder in a near-line configuration, then add a SigmaTower as your production increases," explains Mr. Fetherman. "Or, you can create a totally integrated end-to-end solution where digital files and paper go in one end…and printed, bound product comes out the other. The choice is yours, and that's the beauty of the SigmaLine, giving you the flexibility you need - how and when you need it, as your business grows."