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When Creative Automation, Hillside, IL acquired computer-controlled
folding technology, their goals were to automate their bindery
operations, gain higher productivity, reduce labor costs, and improve
customer satisfaction. Within six months of the folders’ purchase
their goals were met.
"We cut our temporary help in bindery alone by about 35
percent," said Tony Mirallegro, general manager, Bindery/Lettershop.
He explains that with their old manual folding equipment it took three
folders to meet their customer deadlines. Now, Mirallegro says, the same
amount of work can be done on one of the computer-controlled folders due
to its high speed. The other key benefit of the new folders, Mirallegro
says, accountable for reduced labor costs, is their ease of use.
"In the past, only folder mechanics could do the set-ups on fold
jobs but now basically all of our operators can do the set-ups."
Founded in 1969, Creative Automation is a high volume direct mail
printer providing comprehensive services through alliances from list
development to print production to post-mailing analysis.
Creative Automation, with the capacity of processing up to 3 million
pieces per day, replaced their 30-year-old folding equipment with 12 new
Mathias Bäuerle (MB) computer-controlled CAS folders distributed in the
US by GBR Systems Corporation. The folders were purchased to accommodate
configurations such as cross folds and gatefolds. With
the MB CAS computer-controlled folders, fold plates automatically move
into position according to data entered into a central operator control
panel. Repetitive jobs are stored in memory, up to 60 fold types, from
simple to complex, and when the fold job is recalled fold settings
automatically move into position in often less than one minute.
The company’s strategy to automate their bindery was also prompted
by the need to remain competitive. "We’ve always been competitive
but with the CAS folders we can take on larger quantities from our
customers. Out of say 10 million pieces a month we were getting two
million of that, now we are getting six million," says Mirallegro.
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Head Mechanic Miguel
Tinajero (left) and
General Manager, Bindery/Lettershop Tony Mirallegro (right), Creative
Automation
Application
Cross folds,
gatefolds,
on-line folding
Solution
(12) CAS 52/4 DAT
24
continuous forms folders in
various configurations
Benefits
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