Brochure maker - what is it and what is it used for?
Brochures (also known as a booklet maker or booklet making system) is a professional printing machine used for the automatic production of booklets. Its job is to pick up the printed sheets in the correct order, wire staple them together at the spine, fold them in half and often also trim them into a finished booklet - all in one automated cycle.
As opposed to hand stitching and folding, brochure eliminates time-consuming manual work, ensuring repeatable quality and production efficiency. It's a must-have device for any print shop, service outlet or marketing department that wants to professionally and efficiently produce catalogs, manuals, magazines or training materials.
Akonda.co.uk offers a comprehensive range of brochures - from compact desktop models to advanced industrial systems to suit any scale of operation and budget.
How does the booklet maker work?
Process brochures, although seemingly simple, requires precise synchronization of several operations. Modern brochure implements the following stages:
Sheet feeding - The printed sheets (cover and centers) are taken from the feeders. In advanced models, such as Ausjetech MFB, covers and centers are fed from two independent trays, increasing automation.
Alignment - The sheets are precisely positioned and aligned in three planes (sides and face) to avoid offsets in the finished brochure. Systems such as the Oursun M6 use synchronous pushers to ensure perfect alignment.
Oursun M6 + up/down and forward trimmer
Broaching with wire stitching and the ability to trim 3 edges.
Cover creasing - For thicker cover papers, creasing (kneading a groove to facilitate bending) is done before folding. Advanced models, such as Ausjetech MFB, crease the cover "on the fly" while feeding it.
Wire sewing - Sewing heads perform stitching stitches (saddle stitching) at designated points on the back. Professional machines, such as C.P. Bourg BBM, use Hohner heads sew with wire from a spool, which drastically reduces operating costs compared to ready-made staples.
Folding - The stitched set is folded in half along the back. Steel rollers in models such as M6 Protect delicate digital prints from scratches.
Trimming (Optional) - The integrated trimmer cuts the leading edge of the booklet (and, in advanced systems, the top and bottom as well), giving it perfectly even dimensions.
Back formation (optional) - special modules, like Square Edge in the system Bourg whether the press in SuperFax SF-500EU, form a flat, square spine resembling a book.
Brochure maker - how to choose the right device?
Choosing the right brochures should be based on four key criteria:
Scale of production - Do you produce a few dozen brochures a day or thousands? For small print runs, the following will suffice Oursun M4 With manual feeding (up to 1,500 booklets/hour), for medium - Oursun M6 with automatic heads (up to 2,600 booklets/hour), and for large volumes - industrial systems like C.P. Bourg BBM (up to 5,000 booklets/hour).
Oursun M4 + up/down and forward trimmer
Economical wire sewing booklet maker with upgradeable 3-side trimming.
Degree of automation - Do you need a simple machine for manual operation or a fully automated line? Basic models like SuperFax or Oursun M4 require manual feeding of sheets, while the Ausjetech MFB It has a dual-feeder and operates fully automatically.
Additional features - Do you need only sewing and folding, or also trim and square back? SuperFax SF-500EU with a built-in press creates an elegant flat back, and the Oursun M4/M6 systems can be upgraded with R2 and DR5 trimmers for cutting on three sides.
Integration with the machine park - Is the booklet maker to work independently (offline) or in line with the printer (inline)? C.P. Bourg BBM is the only system on the market offering full two-way integration with Canon, Ricoh, Xerox, Konica Minolta, HP Indigo and Kodak digital printers.
Akonda.co.uk experts will help analyze your production specifications and select the optimal booklet maker that will increase productivity and open up new business opportunities.
Brochure maker vs paper size - key parameters
Paper format is a fundamental parameter defining the capabilities of a booklet maker. The machines differ in both the minimum and maximum format of handled sheets.
Input formats - Most booklet makers support standard A3, A4, A5 formats. Model SuperFax SF-500EU Accepts sheets up to SRA3 (320 x 450 mm), Oursun M6 up to 340 x 490 mm, and the system C.P. Bourg BBM to an impressive 600 x 370 mm, allowing the production of large, panoramic catalogs.
Output formats - The finished, folded brochure has half the dimensions of the input sheet. For example, an A3 sheet yields an A4 booklet, an A4 sheet yields an A5 booklet.
Paper weight - as important a parameter as the format. Basic models support 60-250 gsm, while advanced systems like Ausjetech MFB or C.P. Bourg BBM They work with a range of 55-350 gsm, allowing them to produce booklets with thick cardboard covers.
Maximum booklet thickness - determines how many sheets can be stapled in one booklet. The SuperFax supports up to 25 sheets of 80 gsm, Ausjetech MFB up to 25 sheets, a C.P. Bourg BBM Up to 30 sheets plus cover (up to 12 mm thick in total).
Types of booklet makers - inline vs offline
Brochures offline are stand-alone machines that accept printed sheets from a feeder or manually and produce finished booklets. They require manual or semi-automatic feeding of material. This category includes all Oursun models (M4, M6), the SuperFax SF-500EU and the Ausjetech MFB with its own feeder. This is an ideal solution for printers with a diverse machine park (digital + offset) or handling orders from multiple sources.
Products by category
Offline advantages:
- Maximize printer utilization - no need to wait for finishing
- Ability to handle orders from different machines
- Production flexibility - bookletting independent of printing
- Lower initial investment cost
Inline brochures are systems that integrate directly with a digital printer, creating a "sheet to finished booklet" process without operator involvement. C.P. Bourg BBM is the only system on the Polish market offering true two-way inline integration with all leading digital printer manufacturers.
Inline advantages:
- Full automation - from print to finished booklet without touching the sheets
- Highest productivity at high volumes
- Elimination of human error
- Ideal for express and on-demand production
C.P. Bourg BBM offers unique flexibility - it can work both inline (integrated with the printer) and offline with the BSF feeder, for maximum versatility.
Brochure maker for small print shop vs industrial one
For small printers, copy shops and marketing departments (Production of up to 500 brochures per day):
SuperFax SF-500EU - A compact desktop booklet maker with a unique square spine feature. Weighing only 68 kg, it takes up minimal space, yet produces premium booklet makers that resemble books. Ideal as a first-time booklet maker, eliminating the need to outsource the work. Simple operation, reliability and affordable price are the main advantages of this model.
Oursun M4 - Economical booklet maker with manual feeding and upgradeable with trimmers. An excellent choice for companies getting started in professional booklet making. Simple design, easy operation and ready for future growth.
For medium-sized printers and growth companies (Production of 500-2000 brochures per day):
Oursun M6 - Intelligent booklet maker with automatic sewing heads and digital print protection system. Instant changeover between jobs, precise 3D alignment and expandability with R2 and DR5 trimmers to form a complete production line. It's the optimal solution for digital printers handling diverse jobs.
Ausjetech MFB - A fully automated system with a two-feeder, on-the-fly cover creasing, front-end trimming and the patented Progressive function for square spine. This is the machine for companies that rely on automation and want to produce top-quality booklets without manual intervention.
For large printers and industrial production (Production of 2,000+ brochures per day):
C.P. Bourg BBM - The flagship modular booklet making system with a capacity of up to 5,000 booklets/hour. The only booklet maker on the market with true inline integration with digital printers from all manufacturers. With a powerful BSF feeder (18,000 sheets/hour), JDF/JMF support, optional Square Edge (flat spine) and BPM (creasing, cutting, perforating) modules, and offline capability, this is a complete finishing platform for the most demanding plants.
Summary - Find your perfect brochure maker at Akonda.co.uk
Choosing the right brochures is a strategic decision that will affect the company's production efficiency, product quality and profitability. Akonda.pl offers a complete range of solutions - from compact desktop models to industrial inline systems - suited to any scale of operation.
Our experts will help analyze your production specifications, scope of orders and development plans to select a booklet maker that will not only meet your current needs, but also enable future growth. We provide full support: professional advice, delivery, installation, operator training, and warranty and post-warranty service throughout Poland.
Contact Akonda.pl - We will help you choose a booklet maker that will become the heart of your production and open up new business opportunities.
Akonda.co.uk - professional booklet makers for every printing house.
