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digitally printed output is concerned, "the need was not there [initially]," Fetherman said, "but we did not wait." One US customer presently is running Muller Martini's roll-fed (roll-to-roll) Primera technology inline at 500 feet per minute (fpm), which translates to 9,000 copies per hour. "We envision going even faster in the future, maybe up to 16,000 per hour," Fetherman projects. The Primera can be fed inline with signatures from a web press, either offset or inkjet. Adds Steve Welkey, business manager for HP Inkjet Web Presses in the Americas, "If signatures are what they [the customers] do, then inline works great." With sheet-stack features, 12x18-inch bleeds come off the saddle-stitcher, Welkey says, adding that there is flexibility for letters and posters, too. At the annual, five-day Hunkeler Innovationdays exhibition in Switzerland this past February, Muller Martini presented its Presto II Digital saddle-stitching machine, the Primera's "baby brother", according to Fetherman. A new control system was shown in May 2012 at the quadrennial drupa trade fair in Dusseldorf, Germany. This past month, the Presto II device was displayed with a high-performance processing folder, two signature feeders, a cover folder feeder, the stitching machine, and a three-knife trimmer—in combination with an unwinding system, a fold/merge module, and a cross cutter from Hunkeler. Three different pieces were produced live in a continuous run, including four-across pre-printed web products, folded twice across the web "in a double-parallel fold," Fetherman describs, "leading to variable cover possibilities." Of inkjet print, Dragan Volic, marketing director for print finishing systems at Muller Martini, comments: "Quality expectations regarding digitally printed, saddle stitched products are just as high as for conventional print products. With the Presto II Digital, we can offer the customary, first-class stitching quality and all the finishing options enabled by our flexible modular design." High trim quality, center cutting, film wrapping, and palletizing are examples of the possibilities. The Presto II Digital provides a high degree of investment protection as well, making it an ideal solution for small and medium-sized enterprises, according to Muller Martini. A saddle stitcher equipped with signature feeders for conventional (offset) use can be expanded for use in digital/ inkjet print. "Switches between the two production types and combined products, i.e.: a combination of digitally printed signatures, conventionally printed signatures, and selective cover feeding, are possible at any time," explains Volic. As a first configuration, the Presto II Digital can be loaded from a preprinted roll, fitted with folding modules for multipage signatures, or equipped for single- Standard Horizon StitchLiner 6000 Digital Saddle Stitcher Standard Finishing sheet processing. Of course, the saddlestitcher also can also be used as a fully integrated inline solution (digital printing with print finishing). The Connex data and process management system from Muller Martini enables the seamless interplay and optimal control of all aggregates, the firm adds. Near-, In-, or Off-Line Versatility "The Hunkeler pre/post for continuous feed and the Horizon finishing equipment [saddle stitching and perfect binding] transfers over to any type of finished publication that is stitched or perfect bound," explains Don Dubuque, marketing director at Standard Finishing Systems, whether printed with inkjet or offset inks. "For example, the Hunkeler UW6 Unwinder and CS6 Cutter can be put inline with the Horizon StitchLiner 6000 SaddleStitcher, either inline with a continuous feed print engine or off-line." Houston-based mega print firm Consolidated Graphics (CGX) is heavily vested in digital printing, including inkjet web technology. Veritas Document Solutions, a CGX company situated in Buffalo Grove, IL, near Chicago, went inline and installed Standard Hunkeler roll-to-cut stack solutions on the back ends of digital presses from HP and Xerox. Also on its production floor are a Standard Horizon Stitchliner 5500, a BQ-470 Perfect Binder, and an HT-70 Three-knife Trimmer. ✚ Standard Horizon BQ-470V Standard Finishing Systems has introduced the Stan- dard Horizon BQ-470V—for variable—is designed to ft true book-of-one production Systems has released the environments while still ofer- StitchLiner 6000 Digital, ing productivity for longer a continuous-feed saddle runs. stitching solution for the Each book block digital print market. The is measured for unit will be integrated thickness using the with Hunkeler's UW6 BQ-470 digital caliper, unwinder and CS6 rotary cutter for production of up to 6,000 and the data is transferred to the binder automati- booklets per hour, in-line with continuous feed printers. It ofers cally. Set-up for the next available clamp begins almost in-line cover feeding and non-stop booklet production on a immediately, while the prior book is in production, causing range of paper stocks at up to 600 fpm. minimal idle time between variable books and an increase Variable sheet-count booklets can be produced using barcode scanning or mark reading. It features color touchscreen control and fully automated set-up. MyPRINTResource.com/10107811 www.MyPRINTResource.com in production rates. This capability will be feld retrofttable, so existing BQ470 customers can also add this functionality. MyPRINTResource.com/10107813 AUGUST 2013 • INKJET'S AGE 25