The holiday season is upon us once again. I'd hoped to tie my column to a holiday theme, perhaps by devising creative ways of using mechanical binding in greeting cards or recommending plastic coils for decorative gift wrapping. Well, we haven't gone quite that far in our innovative applications of mechanical bindings, but the variety of uses has certainly increased over the last few years.
Just this month we did two jobs that illustrate the range of ways mechanical bindings are now being used. The first is a 22-1/2" x 17-1/2" book containing the grid code of a city in our area. With 120 sheets bound by Wire-O®, the final product is durable, lays flat and can easily be used by all the city workers who require access to the code to do their jobs. This is an example of the highly functional role to which mechanical binding has traditionally been consigned.
Now shift gears. The second job is a 2-1/4" x 6-3/4" publication, bound with plastic coil and designed to look like a remote control device-you know, the clicker that is a frequent source of family conflict. The book, entitled Remote from TV, recommends alternatives to television viewing and will be available at your local bookseller. A commercial consumer product with a mechanical binding? What's the world coming to?
Further evidence of the lowly mechanical binding's new and improved status is its increasing use in high-end corporate communications. In the past, marketing communications professionals would not consider mechanical bindings because the natural movement of the page in the binding created alignment issues with text and graphics in two-page spreads. Also, all mechanical bindings require a gutter margin of at least 1/2". Yet I was amazed when I looked at the November Communication Arts Design Annual to see the number of high-end corporate pieces employing mechanical bindings. Obviously, these concerns are becoming less important as companies seek a fresh look compatible with their corporate image.
As these examples show, the advantages of mechanical bindings are many. They are very durable, even in extreme hot and cold temperature conditions-good news for those city workers mentioned above. There are virtually no size or paper stock limitations-a point well-illustrated by the recent jobs we did at our shop. And a mechanically bound product is truly "layflat." In fact, a mechanical bound book-except for some plastic comb, or GBC, bindings-may be flipped inside out (folded over on itself), which saves space on users' desktops and makes the book easier to reference. Finally, these bindings easily accommodate additional elements, such as inserts, tabs, pockets and fold-outs.
The rest of the good news: many of the old disadvantages associated with mechanical bindings have become objections of the past. Today, wrap-around covers are available, which means books can compete effectively on retail shelving. Also, the wire comes in many thicknesses-from thick to delicate-which addresses the bulkiness issue. And since new automated equipment can now accomplish many of the functions which previously had to be performed by hand, the bindings are more affordable than ever.
For instance, it used to take two steps to insert and close Wire-O®. Now, with the Twinserter we installed a couple of years ago, it's accomplished automatically in one. And the new punch we recently acquired is five to ten times faster than traditional operations. These technological advances obviously translate into significant cost savings for clients.
Now that I've gotten you all excited about the possibilities, let me review the specifics. First, when considering mechanical binding options, it's important to consider the end use. Does the piece need a printed spine? How user-friendly does it have to be? Under what conditions will it be used? Must it fit in someone's pocket? What shelflife should it have? There are also marketing considerations, such as whether the product should employ the same binding method as other, similar products, so that it's recognizable in its market, or whether it should make use of an atypical method in order to distinguish it from competing products.
Once you've established the requirements of the product, you can select the most appropriate binding method. Here are your choices.
Spiral binding. Spiral binding leads the pack when it comes to software manuals and educational materials. And plastic spiral, though it is a little more expensive than its metal cousin, reigns supreme. Comprised of a single coil of metal or plastic wound in a continuous spiral through holes in the binding edge of the sheets, plastic spiral comes in a wide range of colors that can be coordinated with covers and tabs, which makes it the preferred choice of designers and marketing professionals.
Wire-O®. This binding consists of a double coil with interlocking "fingers" running through slots punched in the binding edge. Because play between the page and binding is more restricted, crossovers align more closely than in spiral binding. Wire-O® bindings are popular for calendars, cookbooks and similar publications. Here, too, the wires come in a range of colors and in semi-concealed styles. Although there is no printable spine on ordinary Wire-O®, it is possible to print on the spine of the semi-concealed styles.
Plastic comb binding doesn't allow pages to be rotated in a full circle, but they do align. They can be inserted and removed at will, which is an advantage for reports and works in progress. Combs are available in many colors, have imprintable spines and will accommodate text up to three inches in thickness.
So when your customers need a mechanical binding solution, there are plenty of options to choose from. And, hey, you can even suggest using Wire-O® garlands for holiday decorations. Have a happy new year!
Milt Vine is president of Seattle Bindery, a postpress house specializing in custom
tabs and presentation folders; folding and stitching; foil stamping, embossing and
diecutting; and plastic, spiral, Wire-O and perfect binding. You can reach Milt at
206/682-2558. ©1997, Seattle Bindery.