When you need a binding style that allows for plenty of cover options, look no further than mechanical binding. Whether your application calls for a distinctive cover that stand out from the crowd, or a functional cover that gives you greater space for advertisements, you’ll find a mechanical binding cover style to suit your needs:

TWO PIECE:
Also known as a "split-back" cover, this is the standard mechanical binding cover style. Separate front and back covers are bound along with the text sheets. This style allows Wire-O books to be folded cover to cover for single-hand use.

SEMI-CONCEALED:
This style utilizes a wraparound cover that's scored and folded prior to binding. Binding elements are partially visible through either the front or back cover. One advantage to a semi-concealed cover is that it uses less paper than a fully-concealed wraparound cover.

FULLY-CONCEALED:
Similar to semi-concealed, but the covers wrap around the book to completely hide the binding elements. Fully-concealed covers can either be glued to the inside back cover of the book, or left unglued to provide space for extra copy.

ADDITIONAL OPTIONS:
Foldout covers give you extra panels that can be used for images or valuable advertising space. Pocket covers allow you to insert additional materials such as pamphlets and digital media disks that complement your books. Die cut covers can range from a window that registers to an image on the next panel, or a pocket with a distinctive shape.

Planning Tip: Use a bulking dummy - When it comes to mechanical binding cover production, don't guess what diameter binding element you'll need. A bulking dummy produced on the exact stock to be used for the production run lets us accurately measure book bulk and select the appropriate wire diameter. For example, a Wire-O bound book bulking more than ˝" will require a wire diameter at least 3/16" greater than the book bulk.

Planning Tip: Let us help you plan your covers - Proper cover score placement is crucial to the success of your project. For example, a Wire-O book with a fully-concealed cover will require a spine width 1/16" greater than the wire diameter. On the other hand, semi-concealed covers require spines that are undersized 1/16" from the wire diameter. This will impact the placement of scores, so let E&M Bindery help you with your cover layouts.