HOW MOST MECHANICAL BINDING JOBS FAIL:
Two words: Punching type. Consider this scenario. Your printing looks great. You send the job out to get mechanically bound (Wire-O, spiral wire, plastic coil or GBC). You get a phone call from your bindery. You didn’t allow enough distance between your copy and spine edge. Now your beautiful printing is going to get chunks taken out during the punching process.

Don’t let this happen to you! For Wire-O book projects bulking 1/2” or thinner, 3:1 wire (three loops per linear inch) will be used. For books with a bulk thickness of more than 1/2”, 2:1 wire (two loops per linear inch) must be used. 3:1 wire requires that copy be positioned at least 3/8” away from the spine edge. Due to the thicker gauge of 2:1 wire (additional strength is necessary for heavier books), your copy now must be positioned at least 1/2” from the spine edge.

For example, if you start working on a Wire-O project with an intended 1/2” bulk, you will likely plan your copy to be 3/8” from the spine. Now, assume your client calls you at the last minute and says, “We need to add another chapter.” What if you forget to reposition ALL the copy to 1/2” away from the spine edge? You will punch into type. (NOTE: There may be a glimmer of hope. Sometimes your bindery can move their back gauge a bit to “save” your job. However, this action will weaken your page strength, and might not even be possible at all.)

GREAT NEWS:
We’ve just installed some new equipment to reduce job turnaround times. They are:

- Two high-speed L’hermite punching machines capable of punching up to a foot of paper per minute. The maximum sheet size of one is 15” x 15” and the other is a whopping 24” x 24”!

- Top-of-the-line James Burn semi-automatic Wire-O closing machine, featuring automatic calendar hanger insertion and a wide range of shaped closing tools for smooth round loops ... every time! (We can handle up to a 27” binding edge.)

- Polar automatic unloading system for cutters. This great piece of equipment increases productivity by 40-70%, depending on the job. This means less bottlenecks for us and faster turnaround times for you.