A solution that enables readers to easily find the section they want without the shake.

At IFRA Expo in Vienna, Oct 10-12,  Swedish manufacturer Tolerans is proud to launch a completely new feature for the publishing industry; thumb-indexing, allowing for quicker access to newspaper sections.

Thumb-indexed catalogues and dictionaries have been appreciated for a long time. Now, Tolerans has developed a puncher in the SPEEDLINER in-line ribbon-stitching machine that allows newspapers to be indexed as well. Each section can be pulled out with ease, which solves the traditional concern of having to ‘shake’ tabloid-sized publications to find a certain section inside.

- "In tabloid-sized newspapers all sections are inside the main body of the newspaper, which makes it hard to navigate and find each section quickly," says Jan Melin, Tolerans CEO. "This has been a concern for both publishers and readers. We are therefore happy to solve this issue with our new punching system integrated within our stitching systems."

The thumb-indexes are produced by the stitching machine while the newspaper is still being processed on a production line, at full press speed. The solution consists of two punching cylinders integrated in the ribbon stitcher, together with a suction casing and a paper-waste system. The puncher has a sharp knife that punches round holes, making it convenient to pull out each section with your thumb. The machine is placed under the former board or anywhere there is a ribbon passage in the folder. It can either stitch, punch or both stitch and punch the newspaper sections at the same time.

- "Combining both stitching and thumb-indexing in a newspaper enables easy navigation," Melin adds. "Stitching and punching are undertaken at the same time, with the same equipment, at full production speed. We are not surprised that we have already received tremendous interest in this new feature."

The punching system is commercially launched at IFRA Expo, being the leading event of the publishing industry.

Tolerans exhibits in hall B, stand number B414