Any format. One solution.
Bell and Howell’s Ascender inserters are the most flexible in the industry. All Ascender inserters support multiple applications, are designed to changeover in minutes, and have mailpiece integrity that exceeds industry requirements.
The need to manage short, mid-length and long runs, multiple applications and regulations requiring 100% integrity, are leading mail producers to solutions that can process all mail types with equal proficiency. Bell and Howell Ascender inserters reliably process letters and flats with the highest possible accuracy. The changeover process has been optimized to minimize time, increase repeatability and take application changes to a new level of simplicity.
The Ascender 14 inserting system combines the functionality of multiple inserters and can process applications for virtually any mailing operation. This revolutionary system is designed expressly to answer the mail processing industry’s demand for a fast, flexible, cost-effective inserter. The Ascender 14 inserter is the first product in the industry to truly meet these requirements by enabling swift change-overs yielding the increased productivity that can accelerate ROI.
Benefits at a glance
Swift changeovers
- Only 8 points of adjustment in inserting base
- Some changeovers can be completed in less than ten minutes
Available format turn
- Changes document orientation for portrait to landscape in-line
- Eliminates the need for dual channels or roll-in roll-out
- Reduces the changeover time for the input channel
Unique collation capabilities
- Control Document Collator allows for multiple packet collation schemes
- Envelope window can be on either side of the envelope
- Inserts can be dropped in multiple track sections
Unprecedented flexibility
The Ascender 14 inserter includes the new patent-pending Control Document Collator. This unique invention allows the operator to collate the control document and the inserts in a variety of ways. By combining modular components, operating system functionality and the Control Document Collator, Bell and Howell has made it a challenge to find an application that the Ascender 14 system cannot process.
Navigator system controller
The Ascender 14 also features the Bell and Howell Navigator system controller, which acts as a master command center for virtually any device. With Navigator, operators are free to engage in their operational duties while communicating with the system using voice commands. This allows them to focus on keeping the system running and lowering your cost per piece.
Modular software
To further expand functionality, one or all of the IQ Software Suite for central management of machine and item activity can be added. Production Tracking enables companies to efficiently manage the entire document factory by providing real-time monitoring and workflow control of jobs, resources and employees.
Item Tracking securely tracks every piece processed on all connected systems. The Data IQ solution set gives the users the ability to customize output in the right format, layout and with all necessary barcodes, unique identifiers and control files.
Ascender 14 flexibility
The unique architecture of all Bell and Howell systems allows you to connect our array of input and output modules to any of our inserters. This gives you the flexibility to build a system perfectly matched to your current needs and ready to support your future expansion. Ascender 14 systems can be configured to match a variety of page count and throughput needs. Modules can be added, temporarily removed or upgraded as needed.
Harmonix: The next revolution in inserting optimization
Maximizing the productivity of your inserting systems is always one of a mail processor’s biggest challenges. Production speeds can be gated by application type, material quality and operator efficiency. In many cases jobs are processed at reduced speeds to match the more difficult sets within a job.
Every new Ascender 14 inserter is equipped with our proprietary Harmonix solution. Harmonix dynamically optimizes the inserter cycle speed based on how the machine is performing, the set size distribution and material capacity. Put simply, the machine will adjust its production speed based on the uniqueness of the application, without operator influence.
Specifications
Max cycle speed
- 14,000 cycles per hour for #10, #14 brokerage and 6" × 9" envelopes
- 9,000 cycles per hour for flats
Feeder types
Envelope sizes
- Minimum: 4.125” x 8.25” (104.8 mm x 209.6 mm)
- Maximum: 10.0” x 13.9” (254.0 mm x 353.1 mm)
- Maximum collation thickness: 0.5” (12.7 mm)
Insert sizes
- Minimum: 3.125” x 5.5” (79.4 mm x 139.7 mm)
- Maximum: 8.5” x 11.69” (215.9 mm x 296.9 mm)