September 26, 2007 -- In another example of how investing in the right automated print finishing technology can result in significant bottom line benefits, Branch Smith Printing, LTD of Fort Worth, Texas has increased its business substantially following the installation of a BravoPlus T saddle stitcher and a Pantera perfect binder from Muller Martini.  "Sales are up at a double-digit level. Muller equipment has helped open a new product line for Branch Smith in the small book market, both perfect bound or saddle stitched," says Daniel Hanson, Vice President at Branch Smith.  "We installed the BravoPlus T with a 4th and 5th knife, great for small books, our trimming system is highly improved.  And, the Pantera gave us a faster perfect binding machine without having to move into a high-scale binding line. We can now bind small format books two-up inline."
Branch Smith Printing, established in 1910, employs 125 people and is the oldest printing operation in Fort Worth.  The company, which concentrates on the production of magazines and books, is a recipient of the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.  Approximately half of Branch Smith's runs involve publications encompassing titles for trade associations, special interest and B-to-B communication.  The other half involves books.  Ninety-five percent of the products produced at Branch Smith are bound, either stitched or perfect bound.
The Muller Martini BravoPlus T saddle stitcher at Branch Smith was configured with a Palamides banding machine, providing the ability to process plain or imprinted paper banding material.  The Muller Pantera perfect binder was configured with a gathering system, Esprit trimmer, Uno stacker and conveyor system.  Besides the performance of the equipment itself and the excellent R.O.I. it is bringing to their business, Branch Smith Printing has chosen Muller Martini as its print finishing technology supplier due to a high level of confidence.  "We have partnered with them for many years," continues Mr. Hanson.  "They provide excellent customer service."
The Muller Martini BravoPlus T saddle stitcher is capable of producing product at up to 11,000 c/hr.  It features PLC assisted controls and comfortable touchscreen operation with simple adjustment of clinchers.  BravoPlus T also comes equipped with a three-knife trimmer and due to its modular design, it can be expanded at any time to feed up to 14 signatures or 12 signatures with a cover folder feeder -- meeting the requirements of growing printing and binding businesses.  Other key advantages include: touchless stitcher control from below; gripper and suction opening; individual 1:2/1:1 gearing; heavy-duty in-line single book trimmer; frequency controlled drive; and an easy-maintenance central lubrication system on the stitching machine and three-knife trimmer. Production quality on the BravoPlus T saddle stitcher is closely controlled through selectable options that include: ASIR (optical automatic signature image recognition), lateral thickness measurement by side caliper, oblique sheet monitor, thickness measurement by ridge caliper, stitch monitor, trim monitor, and sequential on/off.
The Muller Martini Pantera perfect binder runs at up to 4,000 cycles per hour.  In addition to conventional hotmelt binding, Pantera can also process PUR Adhesive (polyurethane reactive).  The use of PUR is becoming an increasingly popular method of perfect binding, due to high pull-resistance values and exceptional layflat characteristics.  The space-saving Pantera perfect binder can handle a broad array of different size jobs and can be configured with up to 28 feeder stations.  Pantera can also be equipped with a drum cover feeder and an optional crash feeder station for hard cover book production.  High binding quality on the Pantera is ensured through advanced technology in the backbone preparation and glue application area as well as the advanced nipping station, which provides a sharp and square back of the finished book.  The Pantera perfect binder is specifically designed for fast and convenient set-up via its interactive Set-up Assistant Companion and an intuitively-designed touchscreen monitor.  Settings and specs for all stations are displayed for the current production, plus, data for repeat jobs can be saved and re-loaded virtually with the touch of a button.  The Set-up Assistant Companion also monitors various elements such as the glue pot and spinner temperature as well as the glue level, and, it provides automatic glue length control for spine and side gluing.  Pantera can be optionally equipped with AMRYS automatic make-ready technology, further shortening set-up and changeover times.