New Stitcher Boosts Production at RBC Ministries

Kendell Martin, director of print and distribution services at RBC Ministries, does not take investment decisions lightly. When it came time to look at new stitching equipment, a few members of the RBC staff traveled to Kennesaw, Ga., to visit Heidelberg’s Print Media Demonstration Center (PMDC). Armed with some of their toughest print jobs, the team tested Heidelberg’s stitching equipment and quickly became enamored.

“We decided to replace our existing stitcher with Heidelberg’s Stitchmaster ST 350 when we experienced, first-hand, the advanced technology,” Martin reports. “We also received great counsel from our Heidelberg contacts, who helped us find the best fit for our needs and organization.”

The Grand Rapids, Mich.-based in-plant, which employs about 60 in its printing, binding, warehouse and fulfillment operation, needed to replace its outdated McCain stitcher. Martin was very pleased with the jump in productivity brought by the new Heidelberg stitcher.

“We had planned for a 28 percent increase in productivity over the previous stitcher and trimmer, but have achieved closer to 40 percent,” Martin says. “This was the smoothest equipment install in my 25 years in the business. I was impressed with the entire process from start to finish. The install was completed on a Friday and we were in full production mode the following Sunday night.”

The team at RBC has adapted nicely to the easy-to-use computer interface, which is in keeping with RBC’s goal of going “hands free” by 2011.

“The ability to detect incorrect signatures and out-of-square booklets are huge quality control features that we did not have on our previous unit,” Martin says.

The in-plant uses the new stitcher—along with a Harris M1000 web press and a five-color Heidelberg sheetfed press—to produce devotional booklets that help RBC Ministries fulfill its mission: to make the life-changing wisdom of the Bible understandable and accessible to all.