Challenge CMT-130TC Single-Knife Book Trimmer

Challenge CMT-130TC Single-Knife Book Trimmer

The Challenge CMT-130TC is a single-knife hydraulic book trimmer for binderies and print shops that need a clean face trim on perfect-bound and saddle-stitched books without a full three-knife system. Its hydraulic clamp and automated cycle deliver consistent, square trims at production pace, and it slots in where a three-knife trimmer is more machine than the work requires. Mid-State Litho is an authorized Challenge Machinery dealer and has sold and serviced Challenge cutting and trimming equipment across Michigan and the Great Lakes for decades, with factory-trained technicians and in-house knife sharpening. Because infeed, delivery, and integration vary by bindery, the CMT-130TC is sold as a quoted machine rather than a fixed online price. Request a quote to match a configuration to your bindery.

Key Features

• 🔷Hydraulic clamping & cutting - trims books up to 2″ (51 mm) thick
• 🔷10.5″ TC color touchscreen with live system graphic & barcode-size automation
• 🔷Auto size change < 10 seconds, no tools; stores 99 jobs
• 🔷Stepper-motor positioning, UHMW gibs, composite bushings - low maintenance
• 🔷Throughput: up to 200 bph (single-book) or 500 bph (multi-book mode)
• 🔷Modular: hand-feed, near-line with stacker, or in-line with binder via conveyor & cooling tower
• 🔷Made in Michigan, USA • Covered by US Patents 5,694,823 and 6,799,497

Feeding & Delivery

• High-capacity in-feed holds up to 35.5″ / 90 cm of books; auto feeds into trimmer
• Vertical stacker delivery holds up to 24″ / 61 cm of finished books
• Hand-feed configuration available for cost-effective finishing
• Near-line with perfect binder (feed/collect) or in-line via in-feed conveyor + cooling tower

Applications

Perfect-bound book trimming for digital/offset workflows; near-line finishing cells; in-line systems with modern binders; short-run, variable-size book production.

Benefits

• Rapid, barcode-driven changeovers reduce downtime between titles
• Consistent cut quality on thick books with hydraulic clamp/cut
• Low-maintenance mechanics for dependable, long service life
• Flexible deployment: hand-feed, near-line, or in-line as your volume grows

Challenge book trimmers at Mid-State Litho

Mid-State Litho is an authorized Challenge Machinery dealer, and the CMT-130TC sits within a full book trimmer line we sell and service. The CMT-130TC is the single-knife, face-trim option: it squares the open edge of perfect-bound and saddle-stitched books and is the right fit where a full three-side trim is more machine than the work requires.

When a job needs the head, foot, and face trimmed in one pass, the step-up is the three-knife Challenge CMT-330TC three-knife book trimmer. Alongside the Challenge trimmers, our bindery and finishing line includes Horizon HT-80, HT-110, HT-300, and HT-1000V trimmers, the Perfecta BP SDY, and the Plockmatic Squarefold Trimmer SFT, so the CMT-130TC can be matched to the volume and trim style your bindery runs.

Single-knife vs three-knife book trimming

Choosing between a single-knife and a three-knife trimmer comes down to how many sides you need to trim, how many books per hour you run, the floor space you have, and your budget.

• Single-knife (CMT-130TC): trims the face (open) edge only, with a smaller footprint and a lower cost of entry. It is the right choice when the bound edge is already square and you only need to clean up the face, or when volumes do not justify a full three-knife cell.
• Three-knife (CMT-330TC): trims head, foot, and face in one cycle for finished books that are square on all three open sides, suited to higher-volume work that needs a complete three-side trim in a single pass.

If you are weighing the two against your title mix and run lengths, talk to our bindery team and we will help you size the right machine.

Why buy from Mid-State Litho

• Authorized Challenge Machinery dealer with decades of Challenge cutting and trimming experience
• Factory-trained technicians for installation, operator training, and ongoing service
• In-house knife sharpening to keep your trims clean and square
• Service across Michigan and the Great Lakes region
• Parts and service depth to keep equipment running through long production life
• Quoted pricing matched to your configuration and freight, with no guesswork

Contact Mid-State Litho for a CMT-130TC quote or to learn more about our shop.

Frequently asked questions