Based in Borsdorf in the Saxony region of Germany, winterwork became the first company to use the new Eurobind 1300 PUR adhesive binder half a year ago. Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) unveiled the new version at drupa 2012. Boasting improved graphic operator guidance for extremely quick and easy setup, it also benefits from a number of special functions for digital printing applications such as the automatic block thickness measuring device for single-copy production, and barcode recognition and printing to ensure cover and contents are assembled correctly. "The new Eurobind 1300 PUR adhesive binder has virtually doubled our production capacity and also significantly improved the quality of our bindings," says company owner Mike Winter with great satisfaction after binding more than 100,000 copies. 

"The higher machine output now almost always enables us to cover the job volume in just one shift rather than the two shifts previously required. Thanks to the PUR nozzle system, we can still be certain that only top-quality products leave our premises. This naturally prevents complaints but is also actively perceived by our customers as an improvement to our service and consulting activities," he adds. 

winterwork specializes in digitally printed books in short runs. A 14-strong workforce produces scientific publications and books for educational publishers and public institutions. In addition to external publishing jobs, the company has its very own publishing arm - edition winterwork - which now extends to more than 600 authors. "Our average print runs now range from around 50 to 300 copies, but hardcover family histories are also a particular specialty of ours and here the run lengths are far shorter," says Winter, explaining his core business.

His investment in the Eurobind 1300 PUR is the first time he has opted for a Heidelberg machine. "Our production has reached a volume at which we need to ensure precise and reliable quality while also complying with deadlines - especially with very short runs. The new machine is also far simpler to operate and our operators identified with it very quickly. They now use the Eurobind 1300 almost exclusively, even though our old adhesive binder is still operational to provide additional capacity," continues Winter. winterwork is located just a few miles from the Heidelberg production facility in Leipzig, so the customer's practical experience could immediately be factored into series production, which started in November 2012. 

Eurobind 1300 PUR ideal for digital printing and short runs 
"The automatic block thickness measuring device together with the PUR nozzle was the decisive factor for me, because in digital printing we need to ensure short makeready times and high-quality end products," stresses Winter. "What convinced me above all was the binder's comprehensive PUR concept. The high melting capacity of the premelter and glue supply system makes this the only system on the market that is able to melt and apply sufficient adhesive, even at the maximum machine speed and with thicker book blocks.

I'm not aware of any other system on the market that deposits the freshly glued book spines on the delivery belt as gently as the lift-type delivery from Heidelberg. And that's actually the most important operation for a high-quality book spine," he continues. In addition to ensuring completely uniform application of a thin layer of adhesive, the closed-loop PUR nozzle system is also extremely easy to clean. 

In digital printing, toner inks and special digital printing paper - especially art paper with grammages of 135 gsm and higher - also represent a challenge for many adhesive binding systems. The Eurobind 1300 PUR offers functions that can otherwise only be found on industrial adhesive binding lines. "The built-in jogging function in the infeed area was a real revelation to us. We couldn't understand why Heidelberg was the only supplier to offer this function for this class of machine, because in digital printing it's hugely important to precisely align the loose sheets in the block again prior to binding. Jogging the sheets in the clamp also makes it very easy to integrate this step in the production process. And with the volumetric PUR nozzle system we can be sure that exactly the same amount of adhesive is always applied irrespective of temperature and viscosity - something that is only possible with this technology," concludes Winter.