Binding - Perfect

In the past year, I've had to get up close and personal with hardcover binding and my horizons have been greatly stretched as to what can be turned out in the finishing department. The latest electronic devices even offer opportunities for traditional finishing.

Bookmasters produces all varieties—and quantities—of books via digital and offset printing. Recently, the company installed Muller Martini’s Scalable SigmaLine digital book production system to increase its short-run manufacturing capabilities in combination with a new Océ JetStream 1000 inkjet press.

Color digital printers now realize that they can produce the complete product in-house, including high-quality hard cover books. The new workflow can produce one or two unique books at a time, where it’s necessary to change sizes rapidly.

Of late, 3D Bindery found it was missing out on some significant business opportunities. Many of its customers began requesting PUR binding on specific jobs, a process that its equipment did not support. After researching a number of options, the company chose Muller Martini’s Pantera perfect binder.

Master Graphic Services, a premier trade finisher in the southeastern United States, has completed the installation of the Standard Horizon CABS 6000 perfect binding system. MGS can now become the full-service vendor of choice, says Aamir Anwar, president.

With the steady adoption of all sorts of digital printing systems, more printers are now producing soft- and hard-cover books. Many digital print shops will purchase a perfect binder and assume they’re good to go with a quality product.

Allied Bindery's primary goal is to produce a high-quality book, and a close second is to allow for flexibility. Being an early embracer of hot melt polyurethane (PUR) adhesive for spine gluing has helped it achieve both.

The move establishes Michigan's only custom commercial case bindery business as a division of Thomson-Shore, which employs more than 200 people and expects growth this year even as the book industry changes. And now (Jon) Buller is there to help train a younger generations of binders.

Having an in-house binder that specializes in high quality work for low counts makes sense on a financial level for both companies. (Thomson-Shore President Kevin) Spall added that there is a “softer, more philosophical reason” for the sale as well.

“We can take a craft that is dying...and not just preserve it,

Paul Jakobson from Horizon, introduced the end to end book finishing solutions that support the Kodak Prosper Platform.

Those who bind know that one type of adhesive does not suit all applications. EVA is a cost-effective, general use binding adhesive, and PUR is the best choice for digital color.