Bindery - Finishing

DESPITE THE growth of electronic communications, mail is still considered the most direct and effective communications vehicle for reaching customers and prospects. Direct mail use continues to rise. What some might not realize is just how much the choice of folding and inserting equipment can impact the effectiveness and integrity of a mail piece. The folding and inserting function can make or break how a customer perceives your organization. When identifying the appropriate folding and inserting systems for your in-plant, first determine the volume you need to process. Typically, low- to mid-range tabletop inserters produce about 4,000 to 60,000 finished pieces per month

Here is a sampling of just some of the many products that will be shown at GRAPH EXPO and CONVERTING EXPO 2006. Gämmerler will launch the BL 408 bindery stacker for use behind saddlestitchers, perfect binders, folders and inserters. Features wide format range, two-stage stacking system and a low copy drop height. The infeed is equipped with four top belts and eight bottom belts. Visit Booth Number 3004 Van Son Holland Ink will exhibit its Quickson line of offset printing inks: Quickson PRO, Vs3 and Vs5 series. Quickson PRO works on any size press and application, and provides excellent rub resistance. Vs3

WHEN IT’S time to shop for a saddle stitcher, automation, quick setup and ease of makeready are neccesities. But what other new features are available that might help your in-plant? And how should you go about comparing equipment? We talked with saddle stitching experts at several companies to get their tips and ideas to help you get the best machine for your in-plant. Buying Tips When comparing equipment, examine a range of format sizes and provide job samples (floating cards, envelopes) to equipment manufacturers, ensuring the best possible fit for your shop’s individual needs. —Steven Calov, Heidelberg USA Look for a line that will

JDF-enabled workflows can significantly improve makeready in the bindery, according to research performed by the Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF). The findings include: * 75% faster makeready on stitchers. * 90% faster makeready on cutters. “The promise of this technology to assist printers to greater productivity will enable those using JDF to be more competitive and more profitable,” remarks PIA/GATF Chief Operating Officer George Ryan. Leading the research efforts on JDF is Dr. Mark Bohan, PIA/GATF’s director of research and integrated technology. Dr. Bohan will also lead a two-day workshop in September discussing precisely what needs to be done to take advantage of JDF. The session

According to Kerry Burroughs, division manager of book binding at Muller Martini: “Our customers are looking for shorter makeready and as much automation as possible to reduce labor costs. We’ve been doing motorized makeready, especially on larger lines, so the technology is already on the market to do this. If someone has a manual Normbinder that takes 45-60 minutes for makeready now, the new machines will let them do it in 15 minutes. “Of course, the price has to be low enough; most customers don’t want to spend anything, but really want to lower labor costs. For most, if they can earn back the cost

Selecting a Collator: If there is a big difference in price, there is usually a reason. It is always good to test the equipment on equal footing and speak to owners about what they like or dislike about the system they own and what drove their purchasing decision. —Bob Flinn, director of Business Development, Standard Finishing Systems Consider the reliability of both mechanical and electronic components, the number of years the manufacturer has been in business, the number of years the machine has been manufactured, the average life of the machine. Speak with other end users. If possible, visit a current user and

With on-demand printing making book production easy, in-plants are increasingly upgrading their perfect binders. Here are some of the latest models. By Elise Hacking Book Block Gluing Machine American Binding's Book Block Gluing Machine Type ID 5000 is specifically designed for the production of high-quality gauzed books. The machine is equipped with two glue trays, one for cold glue at the entrance (with infrared drying) and one with hot-melt glue and lateral gluing. Dimensions and processing of the gauze can be electronically adjusted. The ID 5000 handles paper sizes ranging from 3.9x5.9˝ to 11.8x20.5˝ in thicknesses of .11˝ to 3.2˝. www.americanbindingco.com

Printing equipment wasn't the only thing on display at the AIIM On Demand Conference and Exposition. There was plenty of bindery gear, as well. By Bob Neubauer For more than a decade now the On Demand trade show has been giving the world a look at the latest in digital printing. But an equally important part of the show has been the bindery equipment on display. Last month, IPG joined the 21,000 people who attended On Demand. As part of our mission, we sought out the latest bindery gear—a task made much more convenient by the show's relocation from New York to IPG's home

Finding and using perfect binding equipment can go a little easier with some advice from the experts. Perfect binding is a growing business for in-plants. Already 39.2 percent of in-plants have perfect binders. Many others are eying them. Before dropping any money on this equipment, though, it's important to analyze possible future business, not just current needs, so you're not stuck with an outdated machine. "Too often, people buy what they need at the moment and do not anticipate the potential for growth and new business," notes Steven Calov, Heidelberg's postpress product manager for stitching and perfect binding. He suggests asking yourself questions like these:

A collator can save you time and money. But finding the right one requires some research. Several managers offer their insights. By Gretchen Peck When Western Washington University Publishing Services first installed a collator in 1996, it eliminated some very labor-intensive processes, such as hand collating, signature folding and stitching on a manual stitcher. Last year the Bellingham, Wash., in-plant upgraded to a two-tower Duplo 4000 collating system, with 10 bins in each tower. The modular, off-line collator is used by both copying and printing staff. "Depending upon the number of pages, we are saving from 30 to 100 percent in the