Digital Technology And the Bindery

The other method uses collators to gather flat, four-page signatures and present them to an in-line stitcher/folder/face-trimmer. These systems typically have digitally controlled changeovers for short-run efficiency, and the flat sheet method avoids the signature folding step. The knife-folding technique used by this class of bookletmaker tops out at about 22 physical sheets (max booklet size 88 pages) and the resulting fold can be “rounded” (not sharp and flat), depending on sheet count and stock thickness. Production rates vary up to around 4,000 booklets per hour. These systems typically face trim only, and two-up jobs must be cut down separately.