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Build Print Finishing Profits in 2011
Are you sending your digital printed materials out to be finished? Are you looking for ways to speed your turn time and increase your profits on post print projects? These are a couple of the questions you should be asking if you want to increase your profits in 2011.
OK, you have the digital press and can do short or large run printing profitably. What is your process for that job when it leaves the press? Do you send it out of house for folding, drilling, corner rounding, laminating and binding? I suggest that you work on bringing those services in house to build more profit into your jobs.
Increase your bindery profits in 2011
For the past few years I have seen a change in the size of jobs being printed and the expectations of the customer to have it yesterday. With digital presses, jobs are now being printed on a small project basis with shorter lead times. This means, now more than ever, it is more economical to purchase finishing equipment and increase your profits.
Start by evaluating what part of post print finishing do you send out the most. Is it scoring, folding or binding? Usually the print runs are smaller than in the past and there are many manufacturers of short run finishing equipment to meet those demands. You no longer need to invest in large pieces of finishing machines that cost in the thousands and have large footprints. These machines are now available in modular platforms with prices that are more in line with most shops budgets. This will allow your post print finishing equipment to grow with your demand without breaking the bank.
For example, if you send out for short run scoring / perforating jobs then you may want to look into a manual scoring / perforating machine like the Handi-Scor. With the HS-100 Handi-scor, now you can do short run scoring and perforating jobs in house without interrupting the press, with quick and easy setup.
If you send out for short run binding then think about keeping those profits by bringing in house a manual punch binding machine like the Akiles Coil-Mac or Wire-Mac. Both machines are easy to use, have easy setup and are priced to fit most budgets. Or, if you bind using different types of punch binding on a daily basis, consider a punch machine with removable die heads like the Akiles FlexiPunch. This machine allows the operator to change from coil binding to wire binding simply by releasing two levers and removing the die, then inserting the die of choice and locking the two levers back in place all in about 1-2 minutes. The only other additional piece of equipment needed for coil binding is a coil inserter and crimping pliers and for wire binding supplies, a wire closer.
MBM 2240 Destroyit Business Deskside Cross-Cut Shredder
The MBM 2240 Destroyit Business Deskside Cross-Cut Shredder is the paper shredder most prefered by demolition teams across the globe – because using TNT on confidential documents just isn’t practical. Or safe.
How is it Used?
The MBM 2240 is quiet and powerful. No earplugs are necessary to prepare for document destruction. The Destroyit Cross-Cut features automatic start and stop controlled by photo cell and a single, multifunction control switch with pilot light for stand-by, stop (off), and reverse. The high quality, hardened steel cutting shafts take staples and paper clips, but also boasts a lifetime warranty just in case. You can feed 5-6 sheets at a time until the 5 gallon drum is all full.
And How Much Does it Cost
The 2240 Destroyit Business Deskside Cross-Cut Shredder is priced to sell at Lloyd’s. We’ll throw in free shipping and a gift with your purchase.
Lassco CR-20 Desktop Corner Cutter (CR-20)
When it comes to corner cutters, you could say Lassco has had a “corner” on the market. On second thought, don’t say that. Nobody likes puns. But Lassco has been producing manual corner cutters for many years. Whether you’re cutting corners on photos, laminated IDs, or invitations, the Lassco CR-20 Desktop Corner Cutter is a favorite of print shops, home hobbyists, and scrapbooking enthusiasts.
How is it Used?
?The Lassco CR-20 Desktop Corner Cutter is designed to cut paper and plastic, and can handle up to 1/2″ of stock per cut. It comes with one die of your chose (1/8″, 1/4″, 3/8″, 1/2″), but you can purchase replacement dies as well.
And How Much Does it Cost
The Lassco CR-20 Desktop Corner Cutter is $147.90 at Lloyd’s, and it comes with a 1 year warranty.
Akiles Diamond 1 Manual Corner Rounding Machine
Corner rounding machines are great for, well, rounding corners. Sure, that doesn’t seem like much, but that can be important in print finishing when you want a professional looking card, document, or laminated sheet. The Akiles Diamond 1 Manual Corner Rounding Machine is great for doing
How is it Used?
?Not only can the Akiles Diamond 1 Manual Corner Rounding Machine cut through paper, but it wil cut through PVC, polyester, leather, and polypropylene. It’s ideal for rounding covers, pictures, laiminated IDs, and invitations. And the price is right for scrapbooking enthusiasts too. It has a 1 year warranty, and only weighs 5.5 pounds.
And How Much Does it Cost
The Akiles Diamond 1 is $134.95 at Lloyd’s.
Scrapbooking with the Right Paper Cutter
Scrapbooking is a great hobby. It’s creative, relaxing, and sometimes social. Most importantly, it’s a process that creates a tangible record of our lives. So, whether you’re making a scrapbook of your wedding, or a chronicle of the last 40 years, you’ll want tools to do the job right. The first essential tool is a quality precision paper cutter.
Roll With It
You’re investing in this hobby, right? Printing quality pictures, buying different paper and accessories, special pens, and those little thingies that hold the pictures to the paper. The last thing you want is to ruin a picture of Great Aunt Ruth with a dull paper cutter. And, you would hate to waste a piece of that pricey acid-free paper with a mis-measured cut.
I’ve seen the cutters you can get through the scrapbooking club. They’re tiny! There are others available at hobby stores that use a little razor like blade, that dull after just one creative session. To do this right, and to save money, you need a rotary cutter.
Good rotary cutters slide effortlessly on a rail system. The blade depth is adjustable and it’s sharp enough to cut through not just paper, but newsprint, cardboard, plastic films, vellum, aluminum foil, vinyl, and whatever else your creative brain comes up with. And, you don’t just need a sharp blade, you need one that stays sharp (without costly replacements), yet safe enough to have in a house with kids. Plus, your rotary cutter needs to be big enough to hold your project, and should include measurement guides to reference.
You’re creating something to be enjoyed by generations of people in your family. Don’t waste money on something that won’t last, and may ruin parts of your project. Invest in a quality rotary cutter from Lloyds of Indiana to get the job done right every time.