Allied Bindery: Bound for Excellence

by Jen Clark

Like most trade binderies, Allied Bindery has observed trends in smaller run quantities, quicker turn-around time requirements, changing raw materials and an overall reduction in marketplace demand as the digital world continues to expand. To place the company apart from the competition, Allied Bindery set a high standard of customer satisfaction, added service capabilities and provided customers with the opportunity for one-stop shopping for virtually all their finishing needs. (Read the full story at http://www.thebindingedge.com/stories/082113/allied-bindery.shtml.)

Roll fold designs are often used for advertising pieces and are meant to catch the eye of the consumer with the unique product design.  There are several items to consider when planning for a roll fold product to ensure accurate registration and crisp folding results.

A good guideline to follow when planning for roll folds, is to realize that the outer two panels of the product should be the same size as the final required size of the piece, while the interior panels should be successively smaller in width by 3/32”, ending with the innermost panel 1/16” smaller in width that the panel immediately preceding it.  This guideline will vary somewhat based upon the paper stock being used, with heavier basis weight stocks requiring slightly larger panel size reductions.  If panel size decisions are not carefully planned, the end product may display wrap around registration issues and/or push-out problems.

Scoring of the panels is also a critical element toward achieving a crisp and registered folding result, particularly on basis weight stocks heavier than 80 lb.  If a project requires scoring, verify the width of your folder, or your trade bindery’s folder, in comparison to the length of the sheet to be scored.  If the material to be scored is longer (wider) than the folders capability, the printer must plan for die scoring of the flat press sheets.  Failure to incorporate scores on heavier basis weight stocks can result in cracking and fold variation or skew in the final product.

Involving the Sales and Planning Professionals at Allied Bindery can help you with planning requirements for roll fold projects.  Review of project trim size, number of panels, paper basis weight and design will result in a superior end product for your customer.

Incorporating a pocket folder as the cover for your perfect bound project adds a visual pizzazz that can impress your customer.  Keep in mind that there are several key planning steps that must be considered to ensure that the pocket folder cover design is successful.

A pocket folder cover project must be designed and prepared to allow for pre-binding of the text block, prior to inclusion of the cover.  The purpose of a pre-bind of the text is to allow the face and foot edge of the book block to be trimmed smooth prior to being aligned with the face and foot edge of the pocket folder.

Once the book block has been pre-trimmed at the face and foot edge, the book block can be combined with the pocket folder cover, using the foot edge as the primary collating guide.  The Binder Operator will then adjust the amount of spine grind to allow the face edge of the book to align with the face edge of the pocket folder.  Once the book block is glued into the pocket folder cover, a head trim is performed, resulting in text that is nearly perfectly fitted to the pocket folder cover.

Remember, the face and foot edge of the pocket folder cannot be trimmed without destroying the pocket.  Fitting of the text to the pocket folder cover during two binding passes, as described, leaves the pocket folder intact, providing smoothly trimmed text and a pleasing product to your customer.

Involving the Sales and Planning Professionals at Allied Bindery will help you avoid problems during the planning and design stages for pocket folder covers.  Give us a call and let us help you achieve your customer’s expectations

A core value of Allied Bindery is to communicate on an on-going basis with our industry friends.  Our objective is to share insight and observations considered valuable and helpful for our customers, helping you to provide an ever-increasing value proposition to your customers.

Allied Bindery is a premier trade bindery located inMadison Heights,Michigan, celebrating 20+ years of servicing your bindery requirements.

 

Your customer has just requested a perfect bound book with enhanced capabilities to lie flat when opened.  You check your list of trade bindery service providers and see that some of them promote the ability to produce Layflat Binding (or Stayflat or Otabind).  Problem solved, right?

 Not necessarily.  There are several critical planning steps that must be considered during the design and prepress stages of the project that ultimately determine the cosmetic and functional success or failure of the book.

A successful Layflat binding style is accomplished by building the book so that the spine of the book block is not attached to the spine of the book cover as with a standard perfect bound product.  The Layflat book block must first be adhered to a fabric liner rather than a book cover.  The bound book block will then be attached to the cover between a pair of hinge scores specifically placed on the front and back cover.  This design allows the spine of the book cover to separate from the book block when the book is opened, allowing the spine of the book block to float above the book cover.  This design reduces resistance and allows for an enhanced Layflat characteristic when the book is opened.

In order to build a successful Layflat product, design and prepress planning must incorporate specific requirements for hinge scores, graphics and text placement on the covers and interior text pages.  Design requirements must also provide consideration for cross alignments, page borders, and if necessary, drill hole placement.  Failure to plan for these critical characteristics will result in an unhappy customer.

The Sales and Planning Professionals at Allied Bindery are prepared to assist you with the critical planning requirements for Layflat Binding.  Give us a call at 248-588-5990 and let us show you how we can help ensure a successful project for you.

 

Roll fold designs are often used for advertising pieces and are meant to catch the eye of the consumer with the unique product design. There are several items to consider when planning for a roll fold product to ensure accurate registration and crisp folding results.

A good guideline to follow when planning for roll folds, is to realize that the outer two panels of the product should be the same size as the final required size of the piece, while the interior panels should be successively smaller in width by 3/32”, ending with the innermost panel 1/16” smaller in width that the panel immediately preceding it. This guideline will vary somewhat based upon the paper stock being used, with heavier basis weight stocks requiring slightly larger panel size reductions. If panel size decisions are not carefully planned, the end product may display wrap around registration issues and/or push-out problems.

Scoring of the panels is also a critical element toward achieving a crisp and registered folding result, particularly on basis weight stocks heavier than 80 lb. If a project requires scoring, verify the width of your folder, or your trade bindery’s folder, in comparison to the length of the sheet to be scored. If the material to be scored is longer (wider) than the folders capability, the printer must plan for die scoring of the flat press sheets. Failure to incorporate scores on heavier basis weight stocks can result in cracking and fold variation or skew in the final product.

Involving the Sales and Planning Professionals at Allied Bindery can help you with planning requirements for roll fold projects. Review of project trim size, number of panels, paper basis weight and design will result in a superior end product for your customer.