The 3692, which can be used in the Pantera and Alegro A6 perfect binding lines, can handle large oblong signatures, such as A4 landscape, at the full 6,000 cycles per hour speed, unlike the 1571, which had to reduce speed to around 2,000cph. In addition, the 3692 can handle spine lengths up to 460mm and signature thicknesses of up to 6mm, versus 450mm and 4mm on its predecessor. Muller Martini UK sales director David McGinlay said that this tied in better with the size ranges available on the Alegro A6. Another enhancement with the new machine is the fact it is compatible with the Muller Martini Application Platform (MMAP), which means it can be connected to Muller Martini’s Book Data Center (BDC), which measures the thickness, size, trim, spine position and everything else relevant to the production of a book and automates the setup of the whole binding line. “The BDC automates the setup of the whole line, the gatherer, binder, conveyor, stacker, trimmer and the splitting saw for 2up A5 production,” said McGinlay. “The old 1571 couldn’t be networked but with the 3692 the whole line can be networked – that alone is going to reduce job changeover times by more than 50%.” The 3692, which comes with four stations by default, is also compatible with Muller Martini’s book verification system, which comprises an optical scanning system that reads an AsirCode printed on the spine or outside the trim to prevent production with incorrectly set-up signatures. “The book verification system ensures with 100% accuracy that the correct text goes with the correct cover, so you don’t end up with the Spanish cover on the French text, for instance, and that all the signatures are in the correct hoppers,” said McGinlay. “It’s driven by the fact that first book you create has to be saleable, because in the digital market you might only be doing a run of one book – you can’t take 10 copies to get the machine set up.” McGinlay added that the first commercial install of the 3692 was currently taking place at Micropress in the UK, on an Alegro A6....

As the industry emerges from the challenges of the past few years, forward-thinking print leaders are looking to identify the future opportunities that will ensure their businesses continue to evolve and grow. While the specific opportunities will vary, the methodology behind identifying these opportunities, developing a strategy to implement them, and then actually embracing them will be common across many different business types. Our confirmed speakers are: Andy Bailey, Inc Direct director, client strategy & insight, Darren Coxon, managing director, Pensord, BCQ Group chairman and managing director Richard Knowles and David Laybourne, managing director, Real Digital International. This afternoon event, held on the same day as the PrintWeek Awards, is aimed at directors of UK print companies. Attendance is free, but places will be strictly limited as our goal is to ensure this event has real value, both in terms of information and networking. The Directors’ briefing will take place on Monday 21 at The St Brides Foundation in central London. The event will start at 1pm, with an informal buffet lunch, and we expect it to finish no later than 4pm. For more information on the speakers and to reserve your place, click here....

Following an HSE inspection of Aspenlink’s production facility in Childerditch Industrial Park in Brentwood, Essex on 4 October, prohibition notices were served on three items of machinery. The HSE inspection came just over a week after a worker sustained life-threatening injuries at the site when he was crushed by a roll of paper; the worker was freed and airlifted to hospital. A spokesman for the HSE said it could not provide details of which machinery was involved while the investigation relating to the injury sustained by the worker on 25 September was still ongoing. He added that the prohibition notices on the company’s machines would not be lifted until Aspenlink carried out the necessary actions to make those machines safe for use, as advised by the HSE inspectors. “Once the issues identified with the machinery concerned are rectified they can become operational again,” said the spokesman. He stressed that the action was against the machinery and not the company. According to Aspenlink’s website, machinery at the Brentwood facility includes Jagenbeg Vari-Dur and Masson Scott U1A slitter rewinding machines with trim widths up to 2,850mm, a 1,420mm CMF Flexographic printing machine and an automatic reel wrapping machine. It is not known whether any of these machines are affected by the prohibition notices....

Following an HSE inspection of Aspenlink’s production facility in Childerditch Industrial Park in Brentwood, Essex on 4 October, prohibition notices were served on three items of machinery. The HSE inspection came just over a week after a worker sustained life-threatening injuries at the site when he was crushed by a roll of paper; the worker was freed and airlifted to hospital. A spokesman for the HSE said it could not provide details of which machinery was involved while the investigation relating to the injury sustained by the worker on 25 September was still ongoing. He added that the prohibition notices on the company’s machines would not be lifted until Aspenlink carried out the necessary actions to make those machines safe for use, as advised by the HSE inspectors. “Once the issues identified with the machinery concerned are rectified they can become operational again,” said the spokesman. He stressed that the action was against the machinery and not the company. According to Aspenlink’s website, machinery at the Brentwood facility includes Jagenbeg Vari-Dur and Masson Scott U1A slitter rewinding machines with trim widths up to 2,850mm, a 1,420mm CMF Flexographic printing machine and an automatic reel wrapping machine. It is not known whether any of these machines are affected by the prohibition notices....

Andrew Stark, group marketing manager at Communisis, said that Singh’s departure was the result of an adjustment to the group sales structure “to underpin the next phase of strategic growth”. Stark said that he could not comment on specifics of the new structure or personnel but confirmed that Singh would not be directly replaced. In an internal announcement about the change, Communisis praised Singh’s contribution to the business over the past four years. Singh, who has a formidable sales reputation – particularly in direct mail, returned for his second stint at Communisis in 2009, six years after leaving his role as sales director of Chorleys. In between his two spells with Communisis, Singh spent eight months at Blackburns, before joining Howitt in March 2005, initially as strategic development director, then as managing director. He was also recently appointed chairman of The Printing Charity’s re-established Yorkshire Committee. Singh’s future plans are unknown and he was unavailable for comment at the time of writing....