The trend towards shorter print runs continues to be unstoppable. The book market is permanently flooded with new releases and the desire for individuality and current topics in books is also increasing – as is the case with other printed products. The challenge graphic design businesses face is to produce products in short print runs while keeping them cost-effective, with good quality and short delivery times.

The process for signatures enables all types of print finishing to be completed on the SigmaLine, seen here for digital print finishing in combination with a perfect binder from Muller Martini.

Digital printing offers ideal parameters for the production of short print runs, and Muller Martini meets these demands with SigmaLine. The SigmaLine makes systematic use of the benefits of digital printing and links together digital printing and print finishing into one extraordinary complete system. Fully automated production is possible in one single operation – from a PDF file to a finished book.

Modular Design Provides for an Investment Protection
SigmaLine, the unique complete solution for digital book production, manufactures softcover books in combination with perfect-binding systems from Muller Martini, hardcover products in combination with a Diamant bookline, and saddle-stitched magazines when used with the Primera saddle stitcher digital. The modular construction of the SigmaLine means that it can be perfectly adapted to meet the current needs of printing houses.

Intelligent Data and Process Management
The Connex data and process management system from Muller Martini is the central control element of the SigmaLine. It links together pre-press, digital printing and print finishing phases and thus controls all steps necessary for production. Beginning with printing data for a job in PDF form, the machines are set up fully automatically through Connex.

The entire process is monitored and every machine continuously sends information back to Connex. As opposed to conventional processes, products can be tracked down to the specific copy during digital printing for real time quality control and process corrections. For instance, if a printing machine reports poor printing results, not only is this signature ejected, but Connex also immediately arranges to have it printed again.

Common Solutions with Printing Press Manufacturers
Muller Martini collaborates closely with the world's leading manufacturers of digital printing machines. This is the foundation for trouble-free integration of the printing machines into the overall process of the production systems.

At the drupa, SigmaLine will be presented together with the Pantera Digital perfect binder at Muller Martini’s main booth, number C21 in hall 14. Additional individual solutions in connection with a SigmaLine will be presented at the Hewlett Packard (HP) booth in hall 4, booth D60, KBA’s booth in hall 16, booth C47, as well as MBO’s booth in hall 6, booth A39. HP will demonstrate a SigmaLine behind the new HP Inkjet Web Press for inline book block production, and KBA will show how folded, saddle-stitched magazines and advertising brochures are produced inline will a SigmaLine behind the RotaJet 76 new digital printing press. At MBO’s booth, individual signatures will be folded from one roll, gathered together into book blocks and processed into softcover books with a SigmaLine sub-line (SigmaBinder, SigmaTower and SigmaTrimmer).