Aside from the increase in speed over the press it replaced (18,000sph rather than 15,000sph) the ability of this latest press to automatically process work without manual intervention and to maximise output has led to such a significant lift in productivity that an additional folder became a necessity, says Stephens & George.
“This folder will enable the finishing to keep pace with the exceptionally productive pressroom,” says Andrew Jones, managing director. “It is evidence that we have found the technology robust, reliable and productive. In my opinion the TH 82-P is the best industrialised folder in the market.”
The company has five B1 presses in total and each month handles about 16 million 16pp sections and 4 million 32pp sections. The P series Stahlfolders are the ideal high output machines in this environment, says Heidelberg.
The Stahlfolder TH 82-P with PFX shingle feeder can output up to 16,400 16 page A4 sections an hour at a machine speed of just 140 metres a minute. The shingling or overlapping of sheets allows the machine to fold a higher quantity without ramping up the speed which means better sheet control and higher quality folding along with much greater output. It is a folder that can attain a net output of 12,000sph 16pp sections.
Stephens & George employs 231 at the Merthyr Tydfil plant. The company dates back to 1912 and today is run by Andrew Jones, the fourth generation in this family business. Producing magazines, brochures, catalogues, programmes, event guides and general commercial work it generates a turnover of £30m. The company holds ISO 9001 quality, ISO 12647-2 colour and ISO14001 environmental standards as well as FSC and PEFC certification.
