PAYNE BOOSTS FINISHING WITH NEW HORIZON
Mackay-based Payne Print & Sign has installed a Horizon StitchLiner MKIII and a Horizon CRA-36BU Creaser, supplied by Currie Group, as it boosts its finishing power, with the company's workload continuing to grow.
Payne Print & Sign decided to purchase the two new pieces of kit to replace older machines, as well as increase capacity. Scott Mason, general manager of the company told Print21, "Over the past few years we haven’t stopped. We were fortunate enough to not suffer at the hands of the pandemic, and have continued to maintain growth into our 47th year of operations. We needed more efficient production power to keep ahead of the growing demand."
The Queensland company is a long-time Currie Group partner, so did not have to look far for its technology. Mason said, "Given the history shared with Currie Group, the Horizon brand was the trusted choice when upgrading. We have always found the support to be timely, which provides reassurance, with us being a regional business.
"The Horizon StitchLiner MKIII was an obvious choice, as this replaced our older StitchLiner, which was nearing end of life, after being installed back in 2008. The older model was a reliable piece of machinery, and we think the replacement will be equal to that if not better," he said, adding, "The staff have already noticed the reduced make-ready times, ease of operation and improved result in the end product, making the operators, and our clients, happy with the new addition."
Mason said the Horizon CRA-36BU creaser replaced an older creaser, which was becoming difficult and costly to maintain and repair.
"The new creaser allows us to load a stack as opposed to hand feeding, while also giving us the option to perforate heavy card without having to put it through the press. It also can accurately score covers, both up and down, in one pass to suit our perfect binding process. However, given a large amount of our work is carbonless book work, we like to provide that extra bit of polish to our books by scoring the flips. The CRA-36BU allows us to quickly and accurately do this, while allowing our bindery staff to continue with other work."
Payne Print & Sign was established in 1976 by Tom Payne, whose family continues to own and operate the company of 30 staff, servicing the Mackay, Whitsundays and Coalfields regions of Queensland. Having mastered his printing craft in Toowoomba, Tom, along with his wife Grace and young family, set themselves up in Mackay, and went on to start the company. In 2018, it expanded into the sign industry, having acquired an established sign business, meaning it now covers all facets of offset and digital printing, as well as large format signage.
The company has had a long-standing relationship with Currie Group. Mason said, "In the offset side of the business there is a piece of machinery (or two) in every department that have been purchased from Currie Group. From the Cron platesetter in prepress, a pair of two-colour Shinohara 52s and a five-colour Shinohara 52 on the press floor, through to bindery, which now includes the Horizon StitchLiner MKIII, Horizon CRA-36BU Creaser and a Horizon Cross Folder AFC-566."
Michael Mostyn, QLD sales account manager, Currie Group, said, "Once again, we’re delighted to be able to assist Payne Print & Sign in upgrading its Horizon fleet. We’re thrilled the new additions are boosting efficiency and exceeding their expectations."