Multi Bookbinding now offers an efficient solution for recycling plastic spiral, through our division Spiraplast.
Our team has developed a way to incorporate almost 20% recycled PVC in our black wire formula.
Printers, copy centers, and binding workshops can now recycle their accumulated surplus plastic spiral with this ecological method, all while recouping a few dollars. To avoid shipping costs, just add your extra boxes of plastic spiral to any binding job sent to us.
To support the pace required by the very long runs from rotary presses that supply material in rolls, Manutention Rive-Sud has proceeded with the installation of a Demag 98.4 foot overhead crane with two electric brackets.
This addition gives us greater efficiency and reduces the risk of workplace accidents linked to the handling of rolls that can weigh more than 100lbs, and is a step in the preparation for adding automatic section feeders in 2018.
At the 35th Gutenberg Gala on June 1st, Multi Bookbinding was awarded a 2017 Gutenberg Technical Challenge Award in the Finishing category for our work on the production of a book for our client, Novagraf Marketing.
This prestigious award was not only the result of teamwork and a mastery of binding techniques, but was also due to a well-conceived design to begin with.
To see a video (available in French only) of the winning project, visit Gala Gutenberg 2017
Print is dead . . . you’re still making books?
As soon as I mention that my company makes books, I always get the same reaction – print is dead. This is a wide-spread belief in today’s society, strongly supported by the media. It’s so easy to say that we no longer have need of printed products, because everything happens online now. However, the reality is completely different – print is just taking a different place in our lives. There are approximately 50,000 people working in the print industry in North America. This number has been decreasing over the last 10 years, but has stabilized due to the many mergers and closures of under-performing printers. In fact, printers of today operate at speeds unthinkable 15 or 20 years ago, while significantly reducing prices, production delays and staffing requirements.
To many people, printing is synonymous with newspapers, books, and business cards.
We can follow the evolution and growing presence of printed products since the beginning of the century. Some items available now that were not seen before the advent of the digital age include printed cans that display the temperature of the beer inside them, completely personalized commercial entranceway mats and windows, full-color books printed in small quantities right down to even just a single copy, labels on everything, ultra-specialized magazines aimed at small niche audiences, banners and items at all points of sale, clothes and fabrics with high-quality printed patterns, containers of all shapes and materials printed with full color and images, statements and invoices entirely personalized for the recipient, catalogs based on your shopping habits, not to mention 3D printing, etc. Despite what the media may suggest, the printed book is still here. Yes, digital is here to stay, but its growth has markedly slowed in recent years. The negative environmental aspect concerning printed books has diminished as people understand more and more that print can be 100% recycled and is 100% recyclable, which is far from the case with our electronic devices.
What matters with printing is the relevance of the product.
It wasn’t so long ago that to reduce the unit cost of a product and make it accessible to everyone, it had to be printed in large quantities. This is no longer necessary; we can print the right quantity at the right time at the right price – the situation has completely changed. We just have to think back to the 1980s, when a color separation of an 8″×10″ photo could cost up to $100.00. Just imagine the cost then for a Sears’ catalog! Over the past several years, this step has been completely eliminated, as have many other prepress production stages. In short, when I have more than five (5) minutes to talk about my line of business, my audience can better understand what printing actually is. A visit to our facilities or to those of a modern printer always creates the same impact. Visitors are blown away by the technology of the equipment, the cleanliness of the premises, and the quality of the finished products. It’s a far cry from the times when a press operator had to have one car only for work and another car for the weekends. What still remains today is the need to communicate, and print still plays a role in that, as do the web, radio, television and everything else that will be invented in the years to come!
Multi Bookbinding continues its growth with the purchase of the assets of Spiraplast, a producer of high-quality PVC wire for spiral-binding. Founded in 1988 by André Primeau, Spiraplast has a fleet of equipment which includes a Deltaplast D45 extruder line and 4 spiral forming machines from Renz and Bomco.
All of this equipment has now been integrated into Multi Bookbinding’s 60,000 square-foot plant. Multi Bookbinding will be offering its new product to both its existing customers as well as to those of Spiraplast, consisting of renowned binderies, copy centers, printers, and professional offices.
“We’re proud with this addition to our services. There are only two other companies that produce spirals made from PVC particles. Binderies are always under pressure to deliver in record time. Vertical integration is one solution, plus we create new jobs in our versatile team of 60 employees”, states Yvon Sauvageau, president of Multi Bookbinding since 2008.
Multi Bookbinding announces an investment in sustainable development with the installation of a stabilization system for our power factor.
This system will result in an annual reduction of 34,000 kWh and 2,000 kg of CO2 for Multi Bookbinding.
Adding this system is part of our company’s philosophy of increasing efficiency while reducing our ecological footprint.
Our new CMC Heliomat automatic gluer, directly from Italy, uses cold adhesive to glue the insides of binders, game boards and displays. This durable glue guarantees maximum adhesion on all types of materials and increases the shelf life of the finished product.
This new acquisition has allowed us to increase our production speed to close to 400 pieces per hour, in order to support the growth of demand in this market niche. Due to the fibre optic detection system, position tolerances have been reduced down to 1/32″.
Multi Bookbinding presents the four well-known methods for perfect binding. In this article, you will learn to differentiate between them and recognize their unique characteristics. As such, you will better understand the perfect binding production process and the advantages and disadvantages of each method.
1- The classic (standard) method
The signatures of the books or magazines are printed, folded, gathered and glued with a hot melting glue, EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate). The spine is ground off by 0.125″ to prepare it for the application of the glue. This type of perfect binding is the most commonly used in the industry.
The perforations in the middle are used only as an aid in folding.
The 0.125″ section that will be ground off during binding.
Advantages:
It offers advantageous − production costs
− It allows fast production
− It is ideal for for magazines or publications that are one-time/quick reads
− It results in a good-looking product for the price
Disadvantages:
− It produces a more fragile spine, and so is better suited for current publications that don’t need to stand up to frequent consultations over time
− It has a limited shelf life
− It is sensitive to temperature changes – the glue can reactivate or become brittle in very cold or very hot
temperatures
2- The notch method
The signatures of the books or magazines are printed, folded, gathered and glued with a hot melting glue, EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate), without grinding off the spine. The signatures have notches cut out of their spines during folding. This type of perfect binding is the second most commonly used in the industry.
Notched signature. There is no grind-off before binding.
It is more than a simple perforation; excess paper is removed to allow the glue to flow through.
Advantages:
− It produces a very durable product
− It produces a better result for two-page spreads than the other methods, since there is no compensation
needed during imposition for a binding grind-off allowance
− It requires less space on a press sheet, thus allowing the possibility to modify the layout and press
sheet size to optimize production
− It allows cost-savings during printing if the press sheet is optimized
− The production cost is the same as that for the classic method
Disadvantages:
− It requires precise folding, since any variations in folding may allow the notches to be visible
− It has a limited shelf-life
− It is sensitive to temperature changes – the glue can reactivate or become brittle in very cold or very hot
temperatures
3- The PUR (polyurethane) glue method
This method of perfect binding has become very popular since 2005, and is now commonly used. This type of glue is very flexible and durable. The binding follows the same steps as the classic method, but using this very powerful glue. PUR glue has revolutionized the printing and binding industry.
Advantages:
– It is much more flexible than the hot EVA glue.
− It offers the same production speeds as the classic method.
− It uses a stable glue that does not reactivate in the heat or become brittle in the cold.
− It is ideal for works printed on coated stock with the wrong grain direction for binding.
Disadvantages:
− It has a binding production cost which is about 5-10% higher than that of the classic method.
− It requires a longer drying time.
− It is more fragile during the first 24 hours after production, which must be taken into account on rush
jobs (and heaven knows we often work on rush jobs!).
4- The sewn method
This is a high-quality method of production, used for works such as dictionaries, Bibles, product catalogs, and high-end books. The bound product is far more superior in all aspects. The signatures are gathered without any spine grind-off. They are mechanically sewn together, giving the finished product incomparable durability and shelf-life.
Book block sewn with nylon thread.
The thread is visible in the middle of the signature, and may also show the rise of the glue.
Advantages:
− It is impossible for the pages to fall out.
− It has increased flexibility.
− It is more durable in all aspects.
Disadvantages:
− It requires a longer production time than the other methods, since inserting, gathering, and sewing are steps that must be done before the perfect binding.
− The binding production cost is about 50% higher than the classic method.
− The thread is visible in the middle of the signatures.
Note : The cost of binding is on average about 5% of the total production cost of a work (book, magazine, etc.). Binding is often an overlooked element but when well-chosen, it can offer added-value and result in a superior product. Contact us for further information about the many advantages of our binding methods. One of our specialists will help you make the best decision based on your needs and your budget.
We hope to hear from you soon!
Despite all of the options available for improving the flexibility of a work (PUR glue, sewing, hands-free binding (Layflat or Otabind), and respect for the grain direction), a book bound with glue (perfect binding) still has some constraints to consider.
Too often we see designs unsuitable for the type of binding requested: text is within 0.125″ from the spine, spreads (image or text running across two consecutive pages) with important details or titles in the gutter (spine edge), or folios within 0.0625″ from the trim edge.
When a work is bound with glue, there can be dozens of signatures gathered at the same time. All of these signatures experience some variation during folding and/or assembling. Certain adjustments must be made, when 3-knife trimming, to avoid cutting into folios or spreads. When the design is well-done, these adjustments do not appear at all. However, they will be noticeable if the design has no flexibility to allow for these adjustments.
Ensure that the information in the center is not critical so that the reader does not have to wreck the binding in order to see the missing details.
It is easy to see here how the cover hides part of the first page in the book. The glue usually covers 0.375″ of the spine edge of the first page and inside cover.
It is preferable to have a gutter margin of about 0.75″ for easier reading without the constraint caused by the binding.
It is not recommended to spread the text across two (2) pages. The compensation for spreads varies depending on the rise of the glue, the position of the pages in the book, the type of glue, the type of paper, etc.
In certain cases, a bad design can result in unclear words, forcing the reader to break the spine in order to understand the text…
Do not hesitate to have your design checked over by a binder who specializes in perfect binding!
The start-up of our case binding department for the production of binders and display stands for the sampling industry. This follows the acquisition of the assets of K.D. Bindery in June. Moved to our plant this department is equipped with high-performance CMC Italia machines ((HSV-70, Heliomat and Ariemat).
It’s been over five (5) years since Steve Jobs launched the iPad on January 27, 2010, and Apple’s gadget has since caused the word “e-reader” to become mainstream.
There were indeed electronic readers well before the appearance of the iPad, but Apple’s impact on the market was immediate. Although the iPad is not the best e-reader, Apple has taken over this segment of the market.
The days of printed books and magazines seemed to be numbered; however, here we are today with a strong print industry. Obviously, sales of printed books and magazines have declined, but not enough to make this segment of the market unprofitable.
”The production costs of a book or magazine have drastically decreased over the past 20 years.”
As a bindery, we work with several printers specializing in publishing. Over the past years, there have been mergers and several investments in new equipment. This is a sure sign that all bets are for stable sales volumes, perhaps even growth.
The production costs of a book or magazine have drastically decreased over the past 20 years. There is no longer scanning, negative mounting or press set-ups lasting for hours; page layout is more automated, and press and bindery speeds have more than tripled!
”The print book requires an investment of time and money, which greatly eliminates sloppy publications.”
Print runs have decreased considerably, but the number of titles appearing has rapidly increased. There is a magazine for every niche and a book for every subject. As opposed to any blog, a print book gives a great deal of credibility to the author. To write a blog (which I’m doing here!), there is no worry about financial risk since there is no money involved. In contrast, the print book requires an investment of time and money, which greatly eliminates sloppy publications.
Even though the production costs have drastically decreased, print still remains an investment. The author of a book will be identified with that book for many years, which is not the case with ephemeral blogs.
What about the e-book?
The e-book does have a place in the world of publishing, but tops out at between 10 – 20% of publishers’ sales and more weakly in terms of profitability. The electronic book is an additional support to the distribution of a book. First, we had hard cover and soft cover printed formats, and then the mass-market (pocket) format was added. And now here is the tablet version shaking up these three formats, but without completely replacing any of them.
Print books and magazines are appreciated as objects. Readers often recall the smell of the paper, the pleasure of flipping through volumes or the ease to share favourite works, besides the ability to write in the margins, highlight passages, cut out articles and fold down the corners of pages to mark them. In brief, the printed object is a thing to be enjoyed.
There is also the quality, which is incomparable. If you have the opportunity to examine a magazine from the 1990s, you will notice a huge difference in the quality of printing, the number of images, the quality of the paper, and the precision of the binding. It’s undeniable; progress is remarkable!
Finally, there is the environmental impact. It is becoming better understood that paper is both a recycled and recyclable product, made from wood which is a renewable natural resource. The mountains of electronic gadgets are not, and they have not stopped accumulating with the never-ending shortened cycles of obsolescence.
In summary, there is not one format that is better than the other, but instead, a format that adapts to the type of readers that we are.
Long live the book in all its forms, since it is thanks to this invention that we have been able to share our knowledge with each other.
We know the creation of a book is the result of a lot of hard work. However, as bookbinders, we see that this hard work is often ruined by questionable choices at the design stage. Some simple basic good framework can change this, though. Here are five tips for producing a book within the rules of the art and make your book more attractive and enjoyable to read!
1- Choose the correct grain direction:
This is probably the most underestimated factor when choosing a printer. The customer requests a price (the best!) and then compares prices without ever suspecting (due to a lack of knowledge and good advice) that the grain direction of the pages has a major impact on the finished product. This is even more important when working with thicker paper. The grain direction of the paper affects the flexibility of a book. If you examine a book whose pages or cover have been printed on stock with the incorrect grain direction required for binding, you will find a very rigid product whose pages don’t want to stay open. The wrong grain direction can also cause the loosening of some pages in the book, causing them to fall out. This is an important consideration.
It is often more expensive to print books with the correct grain direction for binding, since the printer has to impose signatures of 12 pages instead of 16 pages, thus resulting in more plates and press set-ups. However, with the choice of tools at the disposal of printers today, it is often possible to print without breaking the budget. It is also equally possible to design the book in landscape format, which changes the orientation of the grain.
2- Choose the right type of binding:
3- Think about the graphic design elements
Avoid placing images in two-page spreads (cross-overs) with important details or elements in the middle of the spread. There isn’t a magical formula to ensure that the image will be perfectly seen without forcing open the binding and potentially breaking the spine. This can be even more disastrous with text spreading across two pages. In perfect binding, don’t forget to adjust the images on the inside front and inside back covers to compensate for the side glue, which can hide up to 0.5″ of the image.
Note: We suggest that you consult with your printer to get their recommendations in order to produce a final product that will meet your expectations.
4- Think about the durability required for the book
There are works which require superior durability due to their long shelf life or use (cookbooks, religious works, dictionaries, school books, catalogs, yearbooks, etc.). To ensure the durability of the book, there are three factors to consider – the grain direction, the type of glue (EVA or PUR) and sewing. Binding a sewn catalog can cost up to 40% more compared to a catalog produced with hot glue (EVA), but sewing is the only method which guarantees the durability of the binding. There isn’t any possibility of the pages coming loose, which can happen when using only glue. Before eliminating the option of sewing, ask yourself this question: how much does this 40% increase in binding cost actually represent in the total production of the work (including design, typesetting, photography, printing, distribution, etc.)? Is it worth it to invest this amount and thus have the assurance that the book will stand up to its specified use?
Of course!
5- Consider the time
Each type of binding requires a different production time. Once completion dates are set, they are difficult to move with a full production schedule. People think about the timelines needed to correct proofs and to print, but often underestimate the time needed for the chosen binding method. Certain types of bindings, such as case binding or mechanical binding (plastic spiral), require up to 8 – 10 working days for production. Errors in binding are very costly and have major consequences on the final product. You have to allow the necessary time and take into account the busy periods in the industry. We suggest you follow our blog to keep well informed on this subject!
Until next time!
To support the increased volume in the production of our three-ring binders, Multi Bookbinding has begun installation of a second unit for applying rivets.
Our new Arno 105 will double our production capability and will also, due to better control of piston pressure, increase our quality.
On September 2, Multi Bookbinding held a tour of our facilities for our industry clients. We had the opportunity to welcome 10 clients for a very busy day.
Marquis Gagné, Transcontinental Québec, LithoChic, FL Chicoine Printing House, Imprimerie de la Rive Sud et Marquis Imprimeur were our distinguished guests on this occasion.
Increased control over our production environment has been obtained with the addition of a humidity regulating system, Carel, using German technology. It ensures that a level of 44% humidity is maintained during the cold season. This controlled humidity level eliminates static, reduces the movement of dust, and, above all, keeps the paper pliable and flat, leading to increased quality in our production and higher productivity.
In order to showcase the addition of our new services (spiral binding, Wire-O binding, and sample-card production), Multi Bookbinding has re-done its website. We took the opportunity to review our content indexing and update the search engine optimization. A newly-added and very interesting section is our blog, where we will publish articles on a regular basis. Multi Bookbinding is now more than ever present on the web!
Relocation of the mechanical binding (spiral binding and Wire-O binding) division from Alternative Bindery. After acquiring the assets of this business, we arranged space to accommodate a large fleet of equipment and specialized production team. The installation of a Bielomatik gives Multi Bookbinding a definite advantage in the production of Wire-O bound and metal spiral works, since this machine drills and inserts in a single step! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weQlEyaNVvc
Multi Bookbinding has just completed two important transactions. The acquisition of K.D. Bindery and Alternative Bindery will not only consolidate the company in the binding industry, but also add ten employees to their staff.
“We have acquired the assets of two businesses, K.D. Bindery and Alternative Bindery. This is part of our revival plan,” explained Yvon Sauvageau, general manager of Multi Bookbinding, when reached by Hebdo last week. These two acquisitions represent an investment amounting to $800,000.
Multi Bookbinding purchased the assets of K.D. Bindery, specializing in hard case and binder production. “This will strengthen the scope of our operations. We were doing this kind of production for samples before, but to a lesser extent. Now we possess the necessary equipment for it and can better serve our customers with this new expertise,” added Mr Sauvageau. In the final stages of a sale, samples give the customer a better overview of a product. “Think of all those who work in the industry of coverings, such as carpets and blinds. Hair salons, too, with sample color hair-swatches in hard cover cases to show to their clients.”
Creation of ten jobs
Multi Bookbinding will soon benefit as well from the arrival of 10 employees from Alternative Bindery. Staff at the city-based business will decrease, while some employees will move to the plant.
“This transaction will strengthen our operations in spiral and Wire-O binding and help us to develop them further. Alternative Bindery is often sought out for academic calendars, for example. We have organized an area of 8,000 square feet at our plant to accommodate these employees and their equipment,” said Mr Sauvageau, on the subject of this move, which will take place June 30. Already, the addition of these new services has attracted client interest, according to the general manager.
“The binding industry is evolving, but we have confidence and are in a dominant position. We are also considered a dynamic business, taking bold steps,” added Mr Sauvageau. As proof, Multi Bookbinding has allocated $150,000 for the renewal and upgrading of its equipment fleet in this current fiscal year.
(Source: St-Maurice Hebdo)
INVESTMENT. (St-Maurice Hebdo)
Multi Bookbinding has just completed two important transactions. The acquisition of K.D. Bindery and Alternative Bindery will not only consolidate the company in the binding industry, but also add ten employees to their staff.
“We have acquired the assets of two business, K.D. Bindery and Alternative Bindery. This is part of our revival plan,” explained Yvon Sauvageau, General Manager of Multi Bookbinding, when reached by Hebdo last week. These two acquisitions represent an investment amounting to $800,000.
Addition of an automatic jogger, the POLAR RA-4, on the POLAR 115, our main cutter. This automatic jogger prepares new material for the cutter while the operator is cutting sheets. The precise alignment of the material to be cut and the improved cutting accuracy lay the foundation for obtaining a high-quality uniform end-product. The air exhaust system improves the formation of lifts from the reams to be cut and gives perfect alignment on the press side-guide.
