PRESS RELEASE

27 February 2003

Watkiss Automation at NorthPrint 2003

Hall C, Stand 320

At NorthPrint 2003, Watkiss Automation will be exhibiting collating, booklet making and print finishing equipment for the graphic arts, digital print, inplant and general commercial printing marketplace. Visitors are invited to hands-on demonstrations on a variety of machines and applications.

Exhibits include the new Automatic SpineMaster which works online to booklet makers to produce SquareBack™ booklets. These have the superior, square spine, appearance of a perfect bound booklet but with the security of a stitched spine. They are less bulky than conventional stitch-fold booklets, there is no risk of loose pages and you can even print on the spine. The Automatic SpineMaster is compatible with all Watkiss booklet makers as well as with many other brands. A stand-alone offline version of the SpineMaster is also available.

Also on show will be the Watkiss DigiVAC Collator range which quite literally turns collating on its head. The revolutionary patented suction feed system feeds sheets from the bottom of the stack. This means the operator can reload the bins whilst the machine is running, resulting in non-stop productivity. Both the standard DigiVAC and the higher specification DigiVAC+ will be exhibited with a range of online booklet making systems.

The Watkiss Vario Collating and Finishing System will be demonstrated. This is the only truly modular (bin by bin) vertical collator in the world. Users can specify up to 16 bins per tower, and can combine suction feed and friction feed if they wish. Machines can be upgraded or enlarged at any time, with long term compatibility assured. It collates full B3 sized sheets (520x364mm) from 52cm presses without requiring pre-trimming. A full range of ancillary online finishing equipment for jogging, stacking, stitching, folding and trimming are available.

The hugely successful Watkiss BookMaster range of booklet makers and trimmers will be shown running online with Watkiss Vario and DigiVAC collators. The BookMaster features a Zero Maintenance cut wire staple system which requires virtually no maintenance for over one million (1,000,000) cycles.

Solutions for digital print finishing, including the Watkiss Document Finishing System will also be on show. This unit automatically gathers electronically printed sheets, inserts additional sheets if required and then produces a high quality finished saddle stitched book.

The extensive range of Watkiss collating and booklet making systems provide efficient and productive answers to the finishing needs of users from commercial print, inplant, digital and trade finishing organisations.

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Press Contact

Jo Watkiss
Watkiss Automation Limited
Watkiss House, Blaydon Road
Sandy, Beds. SG19 1RZ England
Tel.: +44 (0)1767 682177
Fax.: +44 (0)1767 691769
Email: jowatkiss@watkiss.com

Notes for Editors:
Watkiss Automation Ltd. is a wholly family owned and managed company which has been designing and manufacturing innovative collating equipment since 1974. Design and manufacturing facilities are located in Sandy, Bedfordshire (UK). As part of the Watkiss Group which includes printing companies, Watkiss Automation is uniquely placed to develop equipment for the Graphic Arts marketplace. The company has been the recipient of two British Design Awards and the Queen’s Award for Export Achievement. The principal product ranges, the Watkiss Vario and Watkiss DigiVAC Collating and Finishing Systems, the Watkiss BookMaster and Watkiss SpineMaster are exported to over 60 countries worldwide.