James Dobrzynski Sr., founder of Crossmark Graphics, has a favorite philosophy: “Better is possible, good is not enough.” Ensuring that each and every customer is treated with respect and held in high esteem has built the New Berlin, WI commercial printer into a powerhouse leader that draws repeat loyal customers to its 65,000 sq ft facility. During the past 18 months, as the firm’s impressive sales force gained more work, it found it needed to add post press capacity in its bindery. Dobrzynski turned to Koenig & Bauer for the solution. In mid-2021, Koenig & Bauer delivered two new pieces of post press bindery equipment: an Optima 106 die cutter and an Allpro 110 folder gluer.

“Our press department led by our multiple Koenig & Bauer Rapida 106 machines was outputting so much volume at breakneck speeds that the bindery was becoming a bottleneck,” explains Dobrzynski. “These two new pieces of post press bindery equipment elevate our firm’s position and deliver the much-needed capacity for our customers. We’re operating each of them 18-24 hours per day, five to six days a week. They join our three cutters, three regular folders, and a saddle stitching system to bolster an essential department within our company.”

Since its installation, the Koenig & Bauer Optima 106 flatbed die cutter has proven to be a truly industrial machine. It is not only rugged in its overall construction, but highly efficient with its quick makeready features, and then, when in production, provides blazing high running speeds. Dobrzynski says that initially it is already more than 15% productive than their previous machines. He knows this will further increase as his operators become more acclimated to its use. It is an integral piece of equipment for all segments that they serve, including commercial printing. A recent job called for Crossmark to print one million 24 pt board sheets on its Koenig & Bauer Rapida press and then be expediently die cut on the Koenig & Bauer Optima 106 and folded and glued on the Koenig & Bauer Allpro 110 for customer delivery. All went according to plan and the project was delivered on time as promised.

One of the most advantageous features of the Koenig & Bauer Optima 106 flatbed die cutter is its grip edge removal system, according to Dobrzynski. This unique system features pneumatic clamps that fix the wooden templates for optimal and secure positioning and reduces makeready time.

Like the Koenig & Bauer Optima 106, the Koenig & Bauer Allpro 110 folder gluer has proven to increase Crossmark’s capacity for its growing job demand. Dobrzynski specified the folder gluer in a unique configuration to provide 4-corner, 6-corner, and back folding as well as the ability to fold and glue lightweight paper, sometimes with runs as long as five to 10 million at a time. The Allpro 110 has delivered at 400 meters per minute with better technology, more automation, and ease-of-use for Crossmark’s operators with touchscreen control panels and memory settings.

“We are pleased with the performance of both new Koenig & Bauer post-press machines,” says Dobrzynski, who oversees Crossmark with his daughter Tammy Rechner, president and CEO, assisted by sons Jay, vice president of operations; Mark, vice president of sales; and Brian, production manager. “Koenig & Bauer stands behind its equipment. I feel comfortable partnering with Koenig & Bauer and its director of post-press Tom Fitzgerald, and trust in Steve Korn, director of national and key accounts. We have a long, solid partnership with our two prior Koenig & Bauer sheetfed press investments, one delivered in 2016 and a second in 2019.”