Now presenting… - commercial printers present folder-gluers or presentation folders
American Printer
Commercial printers are investing in folder-gluers to control turnaround, improve quality and boost their bottom line
"I'm sorry."
"You're sorry? My meeting is in three hours," the client barks, checking his watch, "and I have no presentation folders in which to distribute materials to customers. What am I supposed to do?"
"We printed your folders on time," explains the printer. "But the finishing shop we use missed its deadline. The shop agreed to deliver today, but one of its employees unexpectedly quit and ..."
Many commercial printers that strive to keep their customers inside their doors have discovered a way to maintain tighter control over turnaround times and project quality when producing presentation/pocket folders, table tents, short runs of carton printing and more. Further, the solution has given printers a competitive edge, secured additional clients or jobs, and boosted profits.
How did these crafty graphic arts firms achieve such sought-after results? By investing in folder-gluers to cost-effectively bring finishing tasks inhouse. "We should have done it years ago - that's my only regret," comments Don Moore, president/owner of Letterpress Printing, Inc. (St. Louis), a 25-employee commercial printer and trade shop. One year ago, the firm invested $20,000 in a hand-fed Dick Moll & Sons folder-gluer.
Shops generally don't burst full-blown into this arena, but instead start slowly, gradually pushing their expertise and equipment to a higher level, according to Alan Thompson, product manager for Bobst Group, Inc. (Roseland, NJ). Indeed printers can opt for equipment dedicated to presentation folders or folder-gluers that handle a spectrum of jobs. "Most plants start with presentation folders, but then also do folding carton work," relates Bernie Cote, sales manager for International Paper Box Machine Co. (Nashua, NH). Nonetheless, presentation folders are the "business of the day," continues Thompson.