The TH-82 is set to be installed on today (27 January) and will largely take over from two Stahlfolders currently in use, said operations director Steve Larcombe.

Larcombe said the new machine was expected to “double our capacity in the bindery”.

“Over the past few months it’s been determined that the bindery is half as efficient as the press room,” he said.

“We were folding at around 5,000-6,000 sheets per hour, but we were printing at 10,000. Admittedly, the folders we had were around 20 years old.”

Larcombe said the upgrade would reduce the company’s reliance on outsourcing its finishing work.

“There was a lot of binding we sent out that we can bring back in again,” he said.

“We spent a lot of money sending work outside, so all in all, I believe it will certainly pay for itself.”

Larcombe said the efficiency benefits also tied in with the company’s pursuit of lean manufacturing standards.

The company has traded in one of its Stahlfolder TH-66 machines as part of the upgrade. Larcombe added that it was the company’s positive experience with its previous Stahlfolders that led it to purchase another Heidelberg machine.

“The Stahl we’ve got here is 20 years old and it still folds, so I’m confident that the Heidelberg machines are something that will stay for a long period of time,” he said.

Larcombe said that training on the new folder is expected to be minimal, as the machine features a feeder unit similar to the company’s printing machinery.

Lamb Print is based in the northern print suburb of Balcatta.

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