Autobond looks to build on successful 2012

Autobond, the UK-based laminator and inkjet spot UV manufacturer, is looking to emulate a successful 2012 this year. Delighted by the popularity of its machines at drupa last year â€" where there was huge interest in its innovative spot UV technology - the company has been inundated with orders from countries all around the world, including Australia, Belgium, Dubai, Egypt, France, Germany, Holland, Hungary, India, Iraq, Ireland, Latvia, Nigeria, Palestine, Peru, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the USA and the UK.

John Gilmore, Managing Director of Autobond, comments, “Since last year’s drupa â€" which was our eighth as an exhibitor and our best ever in both level of interest and number of sales â€" our plant has been running non-stop. What has been most pleasing is the number of existing customers that have invested in their second or third Autobond machines. I sold a laminator to US customer Joe Tardie Senior at Presentation Folder in Los Angeles 20 years ago, which is still running today. My son Oran then sold them their second laminator to his son, Joe Tardie Junior. We also had an order from a customer in Portsmouth in the UK who invested in a second Autobond machine 15 years after the first installation. In addition, we have received orders from new customers in markets we’ve never entered before and have made first time installations in countries such as Iraq and Latvia. These are exciting times.”

The launch of three laminators, an inline spot UV machine, and a stand-alone spot UV machine at drupa generated both a lot of footfall onto the Autobond stand and a lot of orders. The company launched a 120 m/min Mini 105 TPHS, a Mini 76 SD ‘Multi’ for dual-purpose thin and thick film work, and the entry-level Micro 52 SD TP. (For further information, visit the Autobond press centre).

Gilmore continues, “The majority of the customers we spoke to in 2012 and since have been extremely interested in inkjet spot UV varnishing â€" it really captures the imagination. We have interest in our entire machinery range from companies all over the world. In our plant, we place flags on the machines as we build them to indicate where the order has come from. Significantly, the number of Union Flags on the machines is also encouraging, demonstrating that there is an increasing strong demand for high quality, reliable laminators from the UK market.”

As Autobond’s global appeal and customer-base continues to grow, so does the company’s service and support network, and in July 2012 Autobond appointed Binderhaus as its new German agent. Gilmore reflects, “It is essential to offer local distribution and service for our machines worldwide, especially in markets with high demand. There is big demand from German customers for high quality and productivity lamination, so having a local agent who speaks the same language is paramount to delivering the best customer service possible.”

In 2013 Autobond hopes to continue building and developing technology that will enable printers to stand out, boost their productivity, and give them a unique selling point and add value to their print.

Gilmore concludes, “I will consider us very blessed if we can repeat the results of 2012 this year. We are looking forward to again working with our customers to develop more innovative technology and further expanding the Autobond brand around the world."