Established in 2002, Image Evolution has carved out a niche in the commercial printing industry, known for its fast-turnaround work for advertising and design agencies. Recently, they upgraded their production capabilities by investing in Duplo’s DBM-700 booklet maker—a decision that has already proven transformative. According to Paul Dale, Production Director at Image Evolution, the new equipment has had a noticeable impact on both productivity and output quality.
“The DBM-700’s built-in square spine module has made a huge difference to our productivity,” says Paul. “Previously, we had to rely on an offline unit, but now, with everything integrated, we’re seeing over a 20% improvement in booklet production.” The compact footprint of the DBM-700 is another bonus, offering substantial gains without requiring extra space. “It’s amazing that such a small machine can make such a massive difference to our finished products,” Paul adds.
One of the standout features of the DBM-700 for Image Evolution has been its versatility. “We can now produce everything from A5 200-page booklets down to A7, and everything in between,” Paul notes. This capability enables them to offer a broader range of booklet formats while maintaining the quality and consistency their clients expect.
The modular design of the Duplo system also enabled Image Evolution to reuse their DSF-2200 feeder from the previous setup, saving on costs while enhancing functionality. “The build quality and technology improvements across the machine are obvious,” says Paul. “Being able to pair our older feeder with the new booklet maker and trimmer was a big plus and shows the beauty of Duplo’s modular approach.”
The transition to the DBM-700 was seamless for the team, as they were already familiar with Duplo’s user interface. “Our operators were able to start using the machine almost immediately,” Paul explains. “The interface is similar to our previous model, so the learning curve was minimal.”
With the DBM-700’s square spine finish, Image Evolution can offer stitched books that rival PUR binding in appearance, allowing them to deliver high-quality results at a lower cost. “The square spine finish on thicker booklets has been a game-changer,” says Paul. “Our clients are surprised when they realize the thicker books are actually stitched, not bound.”
“No doubt the DBM-700 has increased their production capabilities,” says Lyle Rainey, Regional Sales Manager at Duplo UK. “It is a tremendous machine, but what Image Evolution are doing with it, simply staggers my mind. In combination with their HP Indigo technology and soft touch lamination, they’ve produced some amazing samples for their own sales team. These sample blew us away so we’ve incorporated them into our own sample packs. It’s great when our own customers teach us a thing or two about our own kit!”
Looking to the future, Image Evolution plans to leverage their new capabilities to attract new clients while continuing to deliver exceptional results for their existing customers. With the DBM-700, they’re well-equipped to meet growing demand and expand their business in a highly competitive market.
Photo Credit: Left to Right, Paul Dale, Operations Director at Image Evolution and Lyle Rainey, Duplo UK Regional Sales Manager.
