Finishing & Screen Printing

Autobond makes further strides in Australian market with two new installations

Thursday 25. October 2012 - Autobond, the UK-based laminator manufacturer, has installed two more machines in Australia as its popularity around the world continues to go from strength to strength. Two Australian print companies, High Caliber Line and Emerald Press, have brought in Autobond machines - a Mini 74 SD TPM and a Mini 76 TH respectively - to enhance their lamination production and capabilities. These installations are two of many sales made worldwide since drupa 2012.

High Caliber Line
High Caliber Line specializes in the production of a wide range of protected and added-value print – from business cards and lanyards to stubby coolers and sports bottles. Based in a suburb of Melbourne, the thriving company has a reputation for providing innovative products on a number of different substrates. It has harnessed the high production capabilities of the Mini 74 SD TPM to improve its manufacturing of mouse mats and fridge magnets, while simultaneously cutting any unnecessary costs.
The 74 x 74 cm Mini 74 SD TPM, aimed at the multi-colour B2 markets, is powered by a Heidelberg-Stahl suction drum feeder and can laminate at speeds of up to 45 m/min. It is a thermal sheet fed laminator that comes with perfector and magnet capabilities, meaning it can laminate on two sides in one pass as well as apply a magnetic backing layer. David Torelli, General Manager of High Caliber Line, comments: “The main attraction of the Mini 74 is its speed and ability to save costs. We are now producing fridge magnets five times quicker than we did previously and with a single operator. Our business card magnets used to have a turnaround time of 2-3 weeks, but with the Mini 74 it all takes only three days.”
It wasn’t just the high-productivity that impressed Torelli and his team, but also the multi-functionary capabilities. Torelli explains: “We were surprised to learn that we could run our print upside down and laminate self-adhesive cold laminate for the mouse mats and counter mats and bump separate them into a jogger. This versatility offers vast potential to add value for our customers.”
Overall for High Caliber Line and Torelli, it’s about having the best tools for the job in order to consistently guarantee return on investment, as Torelli concludes: “Having the best machinery on the market is a must for any business – that’s why we use Autobond.”
Emerald Press
Long-term customer Emerald Press in Sydney has had a relationship with Autobond for nearly a decade ever since it replaced its entry-level laminator with an Autobond Mini 52 TP. Back then the family-run boutique A2 printer, which carries out a wide range of printed jobs, had cited the necessity for a more ‘robust’ laminator for its film laminating jobs. The Autobond machine met this criteria. Then when it was time to upgrade in order to meet an increase in demand, General Manager Ross Johnston said Emerald did not have to think twice about who to turn to: “We are aware that a lot of trade finishers used Autobond for laminating so it wasn’t a hard decision when we brought in the initial Mini 52 TP, nor when we recently decided to upgrade to the Mini 76 TH.”
Autobond’s 76 x 102 cm Mini 76 TH thermal thin film laminator is designed for B3 to B1 portrait jobs. Fed by a Heidelberg Speedmaster 74 feed head, it operates between speeds of 60 m/min and 80 m/min – ideal for medium to long jobs.
“The Mini 76 TH has allowed us to continue to laminate point-of-sale items, packaging, magazine covers, corporate presentation folders, business cards and anything that is susceptible to scuffing or damage,” Johnston explains.
He adds: “In-house laminating negates the need for outsourcing. This appeal is threefold: it saves us time and money and it offers us a number of exciting options. For instance, it enables us to up-sell on our digital business card range quickly and at a fraction of the cost.”
Johnston summarises: “We are always looking for ways to add value and stay in control of our finished product, of our deadlines and of our quality assurance. Having the Autobond machines contributes significantly to that level of control.”
Autobond’s Australian agent, Tom Ralph of Graph-Pak, adds: “The impact the machines have had on both High Caliber Line and Emerald Press reflects Autobond’s rise in the Australasian markets. We have had 67 installations across Australia and New Zealand so far, and this level of interest shows no sign of abating. The machines practically sell themselves; they have unyielding build quality, they are powerful, easy to use, and will always save customers money.”
John Gilmore, Managing Director of Autobond, says: “It’s great to see further growth and expansion in export markets, especially in a country as large as Australia. Because of the size of the country, Australian customers have realised the many benefits of bringing lamination in-house; it cuts costs, enhances control over quality and levels of production, and expands range of products that they can offer. Autobond continues to seek to establish long-term relationships in many countries that stand the test of time.”