Numbering, Perforating Machine Brings Work In-house, Saving Time

Sending numbering, perforating and scoring jobs to an outside service provider can create a lot of uncertainty for an in-plant.

“We were at the mercy of the contractor — sometimes they were quick and would turn the work around in two days, but sometimes it could be two weeks,” contends Anna Mendez, Printing and Graphics Supervisor at San Bernardino Community College District (SBCCD).

To put an end to this inconsistency once and for all, the Southern California in-plant installed a Rollem Auto-4 Number, Perforate, Score and Slit machine in May, and hasn’t looked back.

“It is just a more dependable and versatile machine than anything else,” Mendez points out.

Being able to bring the work in-house, adds Printing Specialist Kevin Sutton, has saved the in-plant both time and money. The shop does not charge back, so the savings from the more efficient equipment have allowed the in-plant to reallocate the portion of its $1 million annual operating budget that was going to those contracts into improving other areas of the in-plant. And as far as the time savings goes, Sutton notes, “On any given two-hour job, it saves an average of around 15 minutes. It’s just quicker and easier to operate.”

The in-plant uses its new Rollem Auto-4 equipment to number items such as parking tickets for the campus police force, as well as live tickets for the theater department.

“We do those types of jobs on the Rollem constantly,” says Dennis Winters, another Printing Specialist for SBCCD. In addition, the shop produces work such as brochures, calendars and flyers for departments across the campus system.

The six-employee in-plant, located in Redlands, Calif., uses a four-color a Ryobi 524 press and a two-color Ryobi 3302 press, as well as a Xerox Versant 180 and a Nuvera 144. In the bindery, in addition to the Rollem equipment, the in-plant purchased a Morgana folder last year.

“We have pretty much everything we need now,” says Winters. “The bindery is full. We don’t do any large jobs, just medium-sized jobs, so we have a good little bindery for that.”

Still, an upgrade isn’t out of the question. When the staff toured Rollem’s facilities, they spotted another piece of equipment that was just a notch up from the model they purchased. After almost a year of use now, they have a better idea of the difference more efficient and productive equipment can make, so they are eyeing that upgraded version. Mendez is targeting that upgrade for the next 12-24 months, if possible.

“But we’re definitely going to stay with Rollem,” she hastens. “This is just a more automated version, with a few more features.”

Both Sutton and Winters stress that Rollem equipment is sturdy and well-built.

“They make a machine that will last forever,” notes Sutton. “Everything in the industry is going digital, but Rollem just stays the same; the same operations they have been running for the past 30 years. They just produce a good, long-lasting, well-rounded piece of equipment.”