Nearly 40 years after its introduction the MBO K folder is one of the world’s hot favourite combination folders, with thousands of installations worldwide. 

MBO’s K 760 folder debuted in Indian in 2006 after its worldwide debut in 1992. This is an efficiency model folder and mechanical. K means combination folding i.e. buckle with a knife. The K 760 is an entry level folder for a printer who is aiming to enter into automation at a later stage.

According to Aditya Surana, managing director at Indo Polygraph Machinery (IPM): "The MBO K series folders are popular with printers who can control their impositions to suit the limited fold schemes offered by a combination folder. The model is based on the same principles and uses the same technology as the other machines in MBO’s buckle folder stable."

MBO competes with comparative models from Heidelberg Stahl, GUK, Horizon, Shoei and Diploma, which are quite popular among the Indian printers. MBO also has limited support for early models of machines.
Today MBO folders have been installed at Ajanta Offset, Replika Press and Niyogi Offset.

Bhuvnesh Seth, managing director at Replika Press says: "When we talk of entry level, the price point is not so attractive as compared to Stahl but nevertheless, the machine is good for our bookwork requirements, We mostly use for a three and four fold bookwork."

Sturdy equipment
The K760 with a continuous feeder adds to the press line. A highlight of the combination folding machine is its high speed wheels through which the sheet transportation and stop rollers guarantee safe transportation for higher outputs.

"At the heart of the K series is the spiral fold roller design that is a patented feature of every MBO machine," says Surana. The spiral rollers give a better grip of paper and ensures minimum ink pick up, no marking from the steel knurls found on other manufacturers’ roller designs, and the facility to regrind the roller rather than buying new ones. MBO is belt driven instead of gears. As a result there is no greasing required at any point of time and therefore no paper fluff sticks to the place where gears are present.

High price but good product
Four different types of configurations were available. The T520/4 was a one-unit machine offering four-, six- and eight-page parallel folds. The T520/4X had four buckle units with a knife, while the T520/44 incorporates two buckle units with four fold plates in each. The T520/44X had three units for a 16-page sections.

When sourcing a second-hand T520, check the wearing parts of the folder. Also, check the vacuum feed drum, plate lips and roller couplings, advises Surana.

IPM has engineers available for call-outs and support on the machine. MBO’s service contracts are available from IPM.

However, according to Surana, very few customers buying a second-hand K760 take up the contracts, though it’s advantageous proposition in the long-run.

Service contracts aren’t really popular as most printers fix them when they break. The only thing you would need to replace is the rollers and plate lips when they wear out.

Used machinery dealers in India have K760 4/4/X models available for sale. These are models were manufactured in the nineties.

MBO is synonymous with folders and are best selling in the world for unexplained reasons, we witness Indian printers tend to buy Stahls, Horizons and Diplomas.

Surana cautions, "When buying second-hand, check the feeder head, condition of the fold rollers and knife unit."

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SPECIFICATION

Speed 10-180m/min
Feeder size: 15x76cm-20x120cm
Feeder size: Min 15x76cm Max 20x120cm
NIRO buckle plates:
Buckle 1 - Max 65cm
Buckle 2 - Max 52cm
Additional Buckle - 36cm 
Number of Buckle Plates: 
Min - 4 inches
Max - 6 inches 
Diameter fold rollers: 43.70mm
Diameter slitter shaft: 35.00mm