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Finishing is a generic term (borrowed from the print industry) to describe the process of cutting and/or folding printed 'flatsheet' pages into items ready for enclosing and mailing.
At this stage, the specifications for cutting and folding have already been pre-determined by the choice of cut or continuous sheet and the production planning for the printed items.
Our versatile range of equipment can provide solutions to the most complex finishing requirements.
- You can cut costs by ensuring your printer uses a paper size which will enable several identical 'pages' to be printed on the same sheet. For example, it is possible to print two A4 pages from A3 (known as ‘two to view’). This makes huge savings on print costs –only offset by minimal costs for cutting the pre-printed sheet to the required size.
- This also means that the costs for lasering are reduced because several items can be personalised using just one 'pass' of paper – thereby reducing labour costs and machine time.
- Some smaller or non standard size items have to be pre-printed in a multi-up format on A4 or A3 paper. For instance, a DL sized piece would need to be printed x3 to view on A4, or x6 to view on A3 and then cut to size after lasering.
- Your agency/printer should include trim guides pre-printed on to the cut sheet if waste is to be removed.
- Once trimmed to size, each item is then folded to a finished size for enclosing in the mailing pack. This can range from folding A4 to A5 to more complex crossfolds and gate folds.
- Finishing cut sheet items is more labour intensive than continuous print.
- All continuous reels of paper have to go through an automated guillotine which removes the sprocket holes on the width of the reel.
- Additionally, the reel has to be cut to produce mailing items to the specified size. The same considerations apply as for cut sheet – it is more economical to print as many ‘pages’ as possible using the width of the reel. Put another way, you should aim to reduce the ‘footage’ of the reel while ensuring the width of the reel does not exceed the maximum size permitted.
- There is a surprising amount of flexibility in this automated process – our equipment is very versatile in trimming and cutting all kinds of pre-printed items. If you’re unsure, just ask your Account Manager.
- Folding is also an automated process – again, there are few limitations to the versatility of our machines in being able to handle simple to complex folds. Our equipment can fold any paper thickness which is within the gsm specification for continuous reels.
We also offer the capability to glue flat, semi flexible items to any part of your mailing. This uses hot melt glue which ensures that an affixed item can be easily detached by the recipient of the mailing.
For example, we could affix non-personalised cards, CD's in a wallet, or perhaps another printed item to letterheads, brochures, envelopes etc. This is just another way of adding interest and involvement to your mailing.
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TMS finishing plant list
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