Horizon perfect binder delivers a home run for Graphic Impressions

Melbourne-based company, Graphic Impressions, declares independence by installing a Horizon perfect binder, CABS 5000 and bringing all its work back in-house.

For the last six-and-a-half years, Graphic Impressions, has been responsible for printing over 30 magazines for 12 different publishers. Some of the magazines are their own as the company operates across the different disciplines of printing and publishing. The joint venture between managing director, Tony Callahan and director, Silvio Morelli, began as a way of fusing the two men's complementary  backgrounds in printing and publishing.

"We realised that we could start a business together given my involvement with printing and Silvio's portfolio of magazines," Callahan (pictured) said.

With many of their own titles growing in the number of pages per issue the demand for perfect binding increased. Callahan also took note of an increasing number of titles previously printed overseas, coming back home.

"Over the last three months I have noticed a lot more Australian magazines that were produced overseas have now returned back to Australia," he said. "All of a sudden there is more value-add to having a product completed in-house rather than relying on outsourced suppliers."

The prospect of doing all the bindery themselves began to loom large for Callahan and Morelli, but it wasn't until they met with the Currie Group's Bernie Robinson that this vision quickly began to transform itself into a reality. Robinson, consulted with them about what Graphic Impressions needed to move into perfect binding and suggested the Horizon CABS 5000.

"In terms of quality, what the Currie Group had far outweighed anything else I had seen," Callahan said.

The CABS 5000 consists of a six-hopper gatherer, a 15-clamp perfect binder and a three-knife trimmer. The system has the latest in sophisticated automated set-up functions and a production speed capable of handling 5,200 books-per-hour. Complementing the Horizon system is the computerized cross folder, equipped with six buckles and two cross knives.

"Our commitment to Graphic Impressions was about finding and providing them with equipment that is not only easy to use, but would also save them money," Robinson said.

Pictured: (L-R) Bernie Robinson, sales director; Mr Yasushi Matsuhara, director, export division and Tony Callahan, managing director of Graphic Impressions.

On his trip to Australia, director of Horizon's export division, Mr Yasushi Matsuhara, called in to Graphic Impressions to meet the team and offer training and assistance with the machine.

He noted that in Japan, there have already been 30 installations of the CABS 5000, with more expected to follow.

"We are putting Horizon binding systems in more and more printing companies that have always outsourced and never worked with bindery systems before," Mr Matsuhara explained.

The Horizon also requires less manpower on the factory floors. Originally, Callahan planned that he would need five staff on the CABS 5000, but the automation has made it possible for him to run it with only a team of four.

Feedback from the staff has been glowing, he said. "They have never seen automation like it before and the intelligence has made things very easy for them."

Most of all, Callahan says, the CABS 5000 has given his company greater independence and freedom to move forwards.

"Our destiny is now in our own hands," he said.