Ferrostaal Australia completes install of Australia’s first inline Baumann Basa automatic jogging and cutting line, going in at Access Print Solutions. Up and running for less than a week, the streamlined ‘horseshoe’ configuration unlocks the latest in full automation technology for the Sydney-based commercial print shop, which it expects will more than double its productivity.
The install marks the third Baumann Basa to go into the Australian market, and the first to offer the complete inline jogging and cutting solution. The Basa can automatically jog up to 40,000 sheets an hour, with grippers transporting the stack on air tables to the guillotine operator for cutting. A low-pressure blower allows a single operator to handle even the heaviest of materials with ease, while the Basa eliminates the need for manual loading increasing efficiencies.
Access Print Solutions marks the first local install of the complete inline system, transferring the work of two machines onto one and helping to maximise the business’s all-important labour costs. The Baumann Basa is a significant investment but Mark Holmes, Access Print Solutions managing director and co-founder, tells Print21 that it really turned out to be a 'no-brainer' for the business.
“The beauty is that it’s a one-man operation now. The more automation we can put into the business, the better off it will be. It also reduces floor space, and our guillotine operator is able to actually do what he’s paid to do, rather than spending half his day preparing stacks for cutting,” said Holmes.
Holmes praises the help and support of the Ferrostaal team, overseeing the install and training on the new system. The Baumann Basa offers touch-screen simplicity of operation, and can also be set to run in manual mode for smaller jobs needed on the fly, just like a standard jogger. It handles all paper types over 60 gsm, as well as certain label stocks, foils, plastics, and boards up to 400 gsm. The Basa can also be kitted up with a carton inserter and a counting device for increased accuracy.
“We’ve been dealing with Ferrostaal for a while now. They’ve always delivered great quality products with first rate support. We’ve just finished training and everything went smoothly. The operators know their way around the Baumann equipment already, and the new system is very user-friendly,” says Holmes.
Rayne Simpson, general manager, Ferrostaal ANZ, worked closely with Holmes, helping design the inline system’s ‘horseshoe’ configuration to maximise the footprint available.
“Guillotining productivity, it’s all about keeping that guillotine blade going up and down. Any time the operator is off preparing a stack, the blade isn’t going up and down and your productivity is not there. The only other way can improve your productivity is to put more staff on. You can improve productivity, but you’re also doubling your cost,” says Simpson.
Functioning in its inline mode, the jogged reams are moved directly off the Basa and onto the cutter’s front air table. The system can also be set up off-line, to enable feeding of multiple guillotines. Access Print Solutions first came across the Baumann Basa inline system at drupa 2012, leaving it and Holmes maintains the importance of keeping ahead with the latest technology and inline with market changes.
He says, “The market is tough right now, but business is steady. You need to know what’s going on out there. That’s the only way to know how to run your business smarter. The best way to make your business more successful is to invest in technology and automation.”