Automation Equals Speed and Ease

"I would like to see an attachment that lays the books flat after folding them," says Smith, of Marriott. "A feed system that feeds similar to a copy machine with belts above the paper so it's able to feed all types of stock."

Though managers all need to finish jobs fast, speed itself should not be the highest priority, cautions Leonard, of Heidelberg Finishing. "High productivity should be. I think most in-plants are worried about how fast the machine can produce good books, and how many books are in the box at the end of the day."