What's New

SOLON, OH — With demand for high-quality, laminated print on the rise, QT2 has dramatically expanded its finishing capabilities by installing a Foliant Taurus 530NG Laminator from Graphco at its 60,000-square-foot facility in Tiffin, Ohio. The move is already yielding major productivity gains and positioning the company to take on higher volumes of premium commercial work.

QT2, which started as a business forms printer more than 30 years ago, now sees roughly 70% of its output in commercial applications—including catalogs, brochures, calendars, and other products where high-end lamination adds value and visual appeal. The company's reputation for quality has long been a key differentiator, and lamination plays a central role in that positioning.

"Soft-touch laminate is a huge part of our offering. It's what clients expect when they want a premium look and feel," says Chuck Eingle, QT2's CFO. "We needed a machine that could keep up with the demand."

Their previous laminator couldn't match the pace of growing orders, especially for high-volume book cover runs. "We were constantly running into bottlenecks," says Bryan Abel, QT2's Bindery Supervisor. "The Taurus 530NG changed that overnight. I can knock out 10,000 laminated covers without even thinking twice."

The Taurus 530NG is engineered for robust commercial use, with key features like an automatic sheet feeder, flying knife separator, and support for digital and offset stocks up to 20.5 inches wide. It also handles a full range of laminate types, including gloss, matte, soft-touch, and specialty films.

Abel points to its flexibility across finishing workflows: "Whether it's going to perfect binding or saddle stitching, it laminates cleanly, scores well, and folds beautifully. It integrates seamlessly into our bindery operations." Since the install, throughput has skyrocketed. "What used to take a full day now takes minutes," says Abel. "In our first couple days, we ran 5,000 units in a few hours. It hasn't missed a beat since."

Graphco's consultative approach also helped QT2 improve material efficiency. "We were running a thicker, more expensive laminate," Abel says. "Graphco provides a thinner film from Derprosa that performs better and lowers cost. It's faster, smoother, and more economical."

Chris Manley, President of Graphco, notes, "The Foliant Taurus 530NG is built for commercial shops that need reliability, precision, and speed. QT2's implementation shows how the right technology can unlock production capacity and protect margins in a competitive market."

With the Taurus now fully integrated, QT2 is well-positioned to accelerate turnaround times, handle complex jobs in-house, and further solidify its foothold in the commercial print sector.