Premier Printers adopts SBL die-cutter to boost post-press competency

SBL-1050SE automatic die-cutting and creasing platen machine is what Premier Printers in Kolhapur has installed to raise the bar of its post-press production. Print & Publishing sheds spotlight on the company’s landmark installation of the versatile die-cutting machine from the Taiwanese manufacturer SBL Group known globally for its acclaimed die-cutters, folder gluers and foil stamping machines. Premier Printers boasts a production facility of 40,000 sq ft equipped with a family of high-end machines, producing high-quality outputs for customers from diverse market clusters, such as packaging, calendars, book publishing and others. The company keeps updating its machine portfolio from time to time, adopting ultra-modern systems, in which SBL-1050SE being the latest chosen to enhance their post-press competency.

Yen Chen, Amit Shirke, Ranvir Shirke, Hank Kan and Muralidhar Nalli

A big helping hand in the installation of SBL-1050SE at Premier Printers was TGS India (Techno Graphic Services India Pvt Ltd), a sole distributor of SBL machines in India, based in Hyderabad. The distributor also deals in other widely popular Taiwanese machines from a host of manufacturers like Wen-Chyuan, Golden Tec Machinery, Chen Chin, Taimin, Win Shine, among others. Appreciating the support of TGS India, Amit Shirke of Premier Printers said their adoption of the new SBL-1050SE machine has helped them garner new prowess in die-cutting process.

“We were searching for a die-cut machine capable to cut 8000 sheets/hour, in order to meet the increasing demands of our customers. In our pursuit, what it clicked all the boxes was the SBL-1050SE,” said Amit, adding that the Taiwanese die-cutting and creasing platen machine is quite a standard and cost effective among the ones they have ever adopted till date. He said their first impression of the machine was when they saw it running in a facility of a popular printing firm in Hyderabad. After that Amit alongwith his partner Ranvir went straight to the manufacturing plant of SBL Group in New Taipei City in Taiwan where he sealed the deal with Hank Kan, director- marketing, SBL Group.

Muralidhar Nalli, MD, TGS India Private Limited unfolded some technical advancements of SBL-1050SE, which is designed to automatically die cut and crease platen sheet in minimum size of 400x370mm and maximum of 1050x750mm. “Die-cutting of maximum size sheet in the machine can be done at the maximum speed of 8000 sheets/hour,” he mentioned, adding that the inner size of die chase of the machine is 1144×760 mm with cutting plate size of 1080×736 mm. SBL-1050SE can handle varieties of materials with thickness ranging from 0.1mm~2mm (80~1400gsm).

SBL-1050SE die-cutting and creasing platen machine.

Giving reason why they went for SBL-1050SE, Rohan said the die-cutting machine has some proven records of being a strong and lasting system when compared with others of its class in the market. “In addition to the advanced features of the machine, it has been the ‘Trust’ we have in TGS India that made us go for SBL-1050SE,”said Amit, adding that they hope the SBL partner in India would take care of the after-sale service and maintenance of the newly adopted machine to the greatest extent.

Besides the newly added SBL-1050SE, the existing machine portfolio of Premier Printers consists of a line of presses, pre and post-press machines for diverse jobs. In the portfolio are Kodak thermal CTP plate-setter, Manugraph Starline S-30 web offset press, KBA Rapida, BOBST folder-gluer, PaperPlast dry laminator, Eurotecnica PUR perfect binder, Meccanotecnica Aster book sewer and others.

Amit said the inclusion of SBL-1050SE in their machine portfolio has made them garner a new potential to efficiently handle diverse range of substrates of different gramases. He mentioned their expectation that is in two years they would able to achieve full ROI on the machine. On the future plan of Premier Printers, Amit said they are planning to penetrate into the rigid-box making segment, with the adoption of a folder gluer and a UV press.