Century Marketing Solutions enhances its bottom line after installing a Presto saddle stitcher from Muller Martini

Make an investment, achieve a gain.  It’s what every company, in any business, strives to do. And it’s what Century Marketing Solutions has done since installing a Muller Martini Presto saddle stitcher.

“The major improvements have been in quicker make-ready, faster run speeds and less waste,” states Rick Herlevic, Director of Plant Operations for Century Marketing Solutions.  “We are now running at speeds three times as fast as in the past.”

Century, located in Monroe, Louisiana, is a 90-employee marketing company with design, production and mailing under one roof. The company’s core business focuses on serving clients in the telecommunications and cable industries as well as the banking and manufacturing marketplaces.  On the production floor is an array of equipment including large sheetfed offset presses, digital presses and high-speed laser printers. In the finishing department are inserters, folders, inkjet addressing machines and the company’s saddle stitching equipment.

“The Presto fits our current and projected volume,” continues Mr. Herlevic.  “It enables us to compete in markets that we were currently not competing in.”  In addition to its flexible production capabilities, Century Marketing Solutions also likes the robust engineering of Muller Martini technology.  “We chose Muller because of our past experience with the dependability of their machines and also the limited downtime that we had experienced,” explains Rick Herlevic.

The 9,000 cycle per hour Presto saddle stitcher is a sturdy and reliable investment for small to medium size run lengths.  Automated menu-guided PLC controls and easy touchscreen operation enable make-readies and changeovers to be completed quickly.  The versatile Presto stitcher handles an extensive assortment of different size books encompassing standard products ranging in size from 12” x 14 3/8” to 4 1/8” x  4/18” (3 1/8” x 3 1/8” with accessories).  Furthermore, Presto operates in 1:1 or 1:2 modes, providing the capability to run difficult signatures or to maintain high speed productivity when loading bulky projects. 

To meet the requirements of growing operations, Presto offers expansion up to a maximum of 6 twin feeders.  Other benefits of the Presto saddle stitcher include Muller Martini flying stitching heads to assure precise stitching and to reduce wear, as well as a Semko side caliper and missing stitch detector technology to further ensure optimum quality.  The Presto saddle stitcher also features an in-line three-knife trimmer along with an efficient Apollo compensating stacker...and it offers the advantages of a high/low folio, gripper and suction opening, and flat loading feeders.