A Brisbane finishing house has boosted volumes and turnarounds since upgrading a laminator that was destroyed in a factory fire.

Special Binding Service lost an array of finishing machines when a large fire passed through the bindery arm of the company’s 10,000sqm factory.

The Hemmant-based business used the insurance payout to go on an $8.5 million investment spree at Drupa last year. It has since replaced its old Autobond Mini 105 laminator with a Mini 105 mark II.

The B1 device, which was installed in December, has a top speed of 60 meters per minute. It uses a Heidelberg Speedmaster 102 feed head and is fitted with an optional perfector to laminate two sides in one pass.

[Facebook: Fire photos]

Special Binding's production manager, Warren Swinburne, said the Hemmant-based business had opted for Autobond because the original Mini 105 was "the most reliable laminating machine we had ever had".

"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," said Swinburne.

"We can now provide a wider range of finishing techniques that offer our customers more application variety and a better quality end-product."

Autobond's local distributor, Graph-Pak, sold two laminators at PacPrint.

Managing director Tom Ralph said: "[Autobond] 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."

[Related: More news about installs]

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