Finishing - Digital

Traditional well-trained bindery craftsman are both hard to find and expensive. That is one of the reasons why equipment manufacturers have tried to apply as much automation as possible to their machinery. By and large, they have been successful.

It’s a reality that digital print has enabled very-short-run book production. In fact, the term “book-of-one” has entered the language as a descriptor of the short-run process. Designing a system for producing books of one is no easy task.

How do you balance the need for labor with the investment in automatic machinery? I will stick to two key areas: collating and mechanical binding. - Saul Spiel gave the following seminar at The BIA Convention, June 5, 2012

The in-line, off-line or near-line finishing debate is anything but a debate in the digital production arena, but it is interesting to note the configurations and the rationale behind them, as they vary from printer to printer.

Was there one BIG trend in bindery systems that stood out at drupa 2012? The answer is, “Yes!”—and it was roll-to-bind. This reflects the new reality of the digital workflow. The most efficient way to run most continuous inkjet or toner presses is roll-to-roll.

Digital printing has created a fair amount of heartaches for bindroids. The chemistry and physics of printing with toner create some special problems when it comes to producing a finished product. Among the challenges are

Graphic Art Systems announced it has installed its Eco-Eagle hot foil system at AGI-Shorewood, one of the largest and most-innovative specialty packaging businesses. The company plans to use the system for its high-end cosmetic, tobacco and other decorative printing for the consumer market.

The in-line vs. off-line finishing debate has gone on for as long as I can remember. Let’s look at the book industry, which is in a state of consolidation. Here are my recommendations for what to consider in deciding between in- and off-line finishing:

One subject that I feel doesn’t get enough coverage is wide-format finishing. With the rapid growth of digital printing technology in this area, the focus on finishing is increasing. The combination of print-on-demand wide-format printing and finishing has truly revolutionized the large-format signage and display industries.

Bindery expertise is critical in the overall planning of a printed job. This is especially true in the all-digital environment because the years of experience that you’ll find in a commercial print bindery may be missing in the digital shop.