The first Autobond 36 SUV inkjet spot UV machine in North America has been installed at RBC Ministries in Michigan, USA, where it is being used in-line with their in-plant's Autobond laminator to spot varnish book covers.

RBC Ministries is a Christian publisher that produces and distributes bible-study materials worldwide. In 2010 the ministry decided to bring the printing and binding of the books it produces in-house. To make this possible, the company added two HP Indigo presses to its plant, which already included two offset presses and a range of post-press equipment, including an Horizon BQ470 perfect binder, an Horizon HT80 three-knife trimmer, a Horizon StitchLiner5500/6000 saddle-stitching system, and an embossing/foil stamp press.

Mark Hendricks, who was responsible for setting up the digital print center at RBC Ministries' in-house, says, "We produce mainly devotional Christian materials, which we distribute globally. When we made the decision to bring the production of perfect bound books in-house, we knew right from the outset of the project that in addition to printing and binding the books, we would also need to laminate and spot UV varnish the covers. A solution that would allow us to do this in-house was essential, so we ordered the Mini 36 SD T laminator with in-line 36 SUV inkjet spot UV."

This innovative technology makes it possible to produce single or double-sided thermal lamination in one pass with spot UV on one side of the sheet. This enables more economical production of high quality spot UV varnish for digital and lithographic printers producing a range of multi-color print, from high quality brochures and business cards, to short run book covers.

Autobond's president, John Gilmore, says, "The Mini 36 SD T & SUV can print gloss varnish over matt film in-line at either 360 or 720 dpi, and from 1 to 7 dpd, with such accuracy that all seven drops can be printed exactly onto a period. The machine is environmentally friendly, using LED UV technology, which uses 80% less electricity than conventional UV, produces no ozone, lasts 12 times longer, and also runs cold, removing the fire risk."

Autobond installed the Mini 36 SD T laminator at RBC Ministries in February last year, and retro-fitted the 36 SUV inkjet spot UV in-line with the laminator in September.

Hendricks says that he and his team are very pleased with the quality produced using the two machines inline. "The laminator produces great quality, and we've been especially impressed with the accuracy of the registration. Another key benefit is that laminating and spot coating inline saves both time and money. Most importantly though, having the two machines has enabled RBC to do something we have never been able to do in-house before."

Gilmore continues, "RBC Ministries is a great example of the sort of organization that can benefit from our inkjet spot UV technology. The SUV machine makes this process cost-effective for short runs, opening up the possibility of spot UV varnishing for short run book printers, and enabling other digital printers, like Sense Creative in the UK, to offer spot UV on everything from brochures to business cards."

With two installations and four orders last year, Autobond is experiencing increasing global demand for the inkjet spot UV machine. This installation at RBC Ministries in Michigan, USA, follows the installation of a 36 SUV machine with Mini 36 SD TP laminator at Sense Creative in Darlington, England. A 36 SUV was on show with a Mini 36 SD TPM laminator at the Saudi PPSG exhibition in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in November, securing multiple orders for the 74 SUV model.