What moves paper between your machines
Mid-State Litho sells the equipment that carries stock from one machine to the next: belt and transfer conveyors, receding delivery stackers, pile turners, stack lifts, automatic loaders and unloaders, and the stock trucks that move a lift across the floor. Most of it is quoted rather than priced, because the right unit depends on the machines it sits between.
The floor-model side of this list is Perfecta and Horizon. Perfecta covers the pressroom end: the BSH stack lifts, the BPS pressing station, the BA-3 automatic unloader, the gripper transport system and the pusher system that feed and clear a Perfecta guillotine. Horizon covers the bindery end with the PST-44L press stacker and the T-564A and T-566A pile turners.
Baumfolder covers folder-side transport. The 20 RCS receding delivery stacker takes the fold off the machine, and the MILT-20 and MIRT-20 transfer conveyors bridge the gap between a folder and whatever runs next.
For the manual end of the same job, Challenge builds the Pak-Rak stock truck and the Handy Cart, Graphic Whizard builds the PT 4x4 storage cart, and Rhin-O-Tuff builds the ONYX PAL-M manual paper separator and the PAL-14 Auto Pick-A-Lift. Those are priced and in stock.
Transport equipment is bought to fix a specific handoff, so the questions that decide it are narrow: what is the sheet size and stock weight, what is the delivery height of the machine feeding it, what is the infeed height of the machine receiving it, and does the operator need the pile turned, squared, pressed or just moved.
Mid-State Litho has been a Michigan print finishing dealer since 1984 and covers Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. We install this equipment, set the transfer heights with your operators, and stock parts for the machines on either side of it. Call 800-343-4231 or request a quote.
Perfecta pressroom handling
Perfecta builds the pressroom side of this list. Each unit works with a Perfecta guillotine cutter. We quote each unit against your cutter model and your sheet size.
- Stack lifts: the BSH-3-1200 stack lift, the mobile BSH stack lift and the BLL air board lift.
- Loaders and unloaders: the BB automatic loader and the BA-3 automatic unloader.
- Transport and positioning: the BFS/BDT gripper transport system, the BTE pusher system and the BDG automatic positioning system.
- Pile preparation: the PT10-PAJ semi-automatic pile turner and the BPS pressing station.
For sheet feed into a press or a coater, see our universal paper feeders. We list used Perfecta handling equipment in our used equipment collection.
Horizon bindery handling
Horizon covers the bindery end of this list. The PST-44L press stacker and the T-564A and T-566A pile turners are quote only. The pile turners rotate a full lift so the bottom sheets run first. See our Horizon print finishing equipment for the machines that they serve.
Baumfolder folder transport
Baumfolder builds transport for the folder side of the bindery. The 20 RCS receding delivery stacker takes the fold off the machine and builds a square pile. The MILT-20 and MIRT-20 transfer conveyors move sheets from a folder to the next machine. All three units are quote only.
Priced carts, lifts and separators
Most units on this page are quote only. These five units have a published price, and you can order them online.
- Challenge Pak-Rak stock truck, from $1,705.00
- Challenge Handy Cart, $874.00
- Graphic Whizard PT 4x4 storage cart, $2,350.00
- Rhin-O-Tuff PAL-14 Auto Pick-A-Lift, $2,549.00
- Rhin-O-Tuff ONYX PAL-M manual paper separator, $959.00
How to choose a transport unit
The four numbers that settle it are delivery height of the upstream machine, infeed height of the downstream machine, maximum sheet size, and maximum lift weight. Measure all four before comparing models, because a conveyor that cannot bridge the height difference is the wrong machine regardless of its speed.
After that the question is what the paper needs done to it in transit. A transfer conveyor moves the sheet and nothing else. A receding delivery stacker takes a continuous fold delivery and builds a square pile. A pile turner rotates a lift so the bottom sheets run first, or squares and aerates a pile that has taken on static. A pressing station removes air from a lift before cutting. A stack lift raises a pallet to working height so an operator is not lifting from the floor.
Stock trucks and carts answer a different question. They move a lift between departments, and the measurement that matters is the maximum sheet size they carry, not throughput. Challenge builds the Pak-Rak in an 11 by 17 stock size, and the PAK-RAK XL for larger sheets.
Quote-only is normal in this category. A floor-model pile turner or loader is specified against the machine it serves, so MSL quotes it against your sheet size, stock weight and the two machine heights rather than publishing one price.
A paper jogger squares and aerates a pile without a turn. For that job, see our paper joggers.
Pallet wrappers do a different job. For pallet wrap, see our shrink wrapping equipment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a conveyor and a pile turner?
A conveyor moves sheets from one machine to the next. A pile turner rotates or squares an entire lift, usually to change which sheets run first or to remove static and air before cutting. They solve different problems and most shops that need one do not need the other.
How do I know if a transport unit will fit between my two machines?
Measure the delivery height of the machine feeding it and the infeed height of the machine receiving it. Send us both numbers with your sheet size and stock weight and we will tell you which units bridge that gap.
Why are most of these quoted instead of priced?
Floor-model loaders, unloaders, pile turners and stack lifts are specified against the machines on either side of them, so the configuration changes the price. The carts, stock trucks and manual separators are priced and listed.
Do you install transport equipment and set the heights?
Yes. Mid-State Litho installs this equipment and sets transfer heights with your operators as part of the installation. We cover Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.
Can a pile turner handle coated or static-prone stock?
That is one of the main reasons shops buy one. Ask us about your specific stock and we will confirm against the model's rated sheet weight before quoting.
Financing and leasing are available on transport equipment. See financing and leasing for the details, or call 800-343-4231 for a quote.