Finishing & Screen Printing

Australian bindery company reinvests in Autobond laminator

Wednesday 24. July 2013 - Autobond, the UK-based laminator and spot UV manufacturer, has installed a Mini 105 laminator at Special Binding Service, one of the largest binding companies in Queensland, Australia. The new model replaces the company's previous Mini 105 laminator that was lost following a large fire at the company's factory in 2012.

Based in the Brisbane suburb of Hemmant, Special Binding Service was founded in 1969 as a commercial book binder. Over the past forty years the company has expanded into a full finishing house for printers, extending its services to offer lamination of book covers, posters and more. Following the fire last year – which saw a blaze rip through the bindery arm of the company’s 10,000sqm building – the company’s Production Manager, Warren Swinburne, went to drupa to replace the company’s production line.
Swinburne explains: “I have been aware of Autobond and its machines since drupa 2008. That’s when we bought the original Mini 105 and it was the most reliable laminating machine we had ever had. So when it came to replacing the machine at drupa last year, it was an easy decision. We visited the Autobond stand and went for an upgrade with the Mini 105 mark II.”
This Mini 105 mark II is a 105 x 76 cm,B1landscapelaminator with a maximum operating speed of60 meters per minute (m/min). It utilises a Heidelberg Speedmaster 102 feed head and is fitted with an optional perfector to laminate two sides in one pass. It also features astacker to return the laminated sheets into pile form.
“On top of the Autobond machine being a steadfast component of our finishing line, its impressive running speed is enabling us to increase the volume of work we are able to deliver with short turnaround times. We can now provide a wider range of finishing techniques that offer our customers more application variety and a better quality end-product,” Swinburne concludes.
Autobond’s Australian agent, Tom Ralph of Graph-Pak, adds: “The fact that Special Binding Service returned to Autobond and replaced its laminator with another Mini 105 speaks volumes for Autobond’s reputation. It is renowned across the Australasian markets for producing great build quality machines that are powerful, easy to use, and that can help expand a company’s business. I’m getting more and more interest in Autobond’s kit every week, both spot UV and laminators. We sold two more Autobond laminators at this year’s PacPrint.”
John Gilmore, Managing Director of Autobond, says: “Special Binding Service has shown real character to bounce back from last year’s setback, and we’re delighted to be part of their resurgence. This deal demonstrates how our laminators instil both confidence and loyalty in our customers. Australia is consistently proving to be one of our best markets for laminators. Because of the vast distances, it is essential to have reliable and versatile machinery.”