Palace Green Library (part of Durham University) have taken delivery of a new Zünd S3 M-1600. The cutter will play a pivotal role in crafting protective packaging and boxes to safeguard and preserve the University’s historical collection.
Lying at the heart of the World Heritage Site between the Castle and the Cathedral, Palace Green Library and its collections have represented the best of humanity’s thirst for knowledge and understanding. UNESCO inscribed the site on the World Heritage List in 1986 for its significance to the whole of humanity. Palace Green Library cares for a wide range of historical collections including manuscripts that pre-date the Norman conquest, early and rare printed books, parchment documents and a huge breadth of museum objects held at the Oriental Museum and Durham Castle. From Ancient Egypt to modern China, the Oriental Museum is devoted entirely to the art and archaeology of the great cultures of Northern Africa and Asia.
In the early months of 2023, the collections department at Palace Green Library undertook a comprehensive review of their conservation processes, seeking more efficient methods that balance flexibility and cost-effectiveness. Tony King, Senior Collections Care and Conservation Manager at Durham University, emphasised the integral role of protective packaging in collections care. While recognising the time-intensive nature of handcrafting custom boxes and the expense associated with purchasing specialised ones, he researched digital cutting techniques adopted by fellow universities and museums, the research led them to Zünd Digital Cutters.
Palace Green Library proactively engaged with Zund UK, to organise a product demonstration with the support of Arden Software. Reflecting on the experience, King remarked, “During the demonstration, we were introduced to the Zünd G3 and S3 digital cutters, but quickly concluded that the S3 stood out as the optimal choice for our needs. I was impressed by the design and build quality of the Zünd. We conducted rigorous tests on a variety of materials, including archivable box, dense millboard, protective cloth and foam.”
