Mechanical Binding — Bound for Success

Stick with equipment that speaks to your workload, maintains Anna Massey, sales and marketing manager for Gateway Bookbinding Systems. "If 80 percent of what you do is over the .75˝ (20mm) mark with a 5˝ binding edge, then look for equipment that is geared for the thicker books," she says.

And if you happen to be comparing manufacturer A with manufacturer B (and perhaps C), Massey believes it's highly advisable to collect references. The input fellow printers and trade finishers provide can go a long way in helping to make a purchasing determination.