In the first step, sheets are sized (trimmed) or  selected from  pre-sized stock , printed,  long before or shortly after trimming process. To bind the sheets together, they should first be punched (hand crank or electric) along edge just with  number of holes depending on the "bind  strip" to be used. The punch is  often built into  the binding machine. Finally, protective  covers are added, cover & sheets are  aligned, the bind strip is inserted/applied (either  manually or electrically) & document is  closed:

Binding documents  is a great way to add a excellent look to client presentations, annual reports or technical manuals: Binding protects documents & assures  their long-term  usage. Solutions are  available for  binding just few pages or  several hundred  pages.

• How many  sheets  could need to be bound at  one time?

Within each type  of binding, there is range of pages that could be bound into  document. Between binding styles, velo binding machines have the greatest binding capacity at 3" thick,  whereas coil  , wire loop binding can  only bind documents up to 1" thick. 

• How  many  sheets could need to be punched at one  time?

Just like binding capacity, punching capacity  will  range within each style of binding as well as  between binding styles. Comb binding machinary can punch in  upwards of 30  sheets per punch, while coil binding  equipment  can only punch up to 15 sheets per  punch.  Punching is not a concern for  thermal binding machines.

• What production  capacity is  required (binds per hour/day)?

The production capacity would vary within , between binding styles  as well.  The binding procedure could take  longer for larger documents, as  more sheets have to be punched ,  aligned:

• Will editing be  required later?

This is an critical  consideration  dedicated to documents that are more prone to needing pages added or removed. small number of binding styles, such  as comb & velo, enable  you to open document,  replace sheets, ,  reclose document quite  easily, while other binding styles, such  as thermal  and tape, require more perform to edit. 

• What look is desired  for finished documents?

The look of the finished document could be determined by what style is most  suitable  for your binding needs, as well  as the use of bound documents. small number of  binding styles such coil, comb, ,  wire loop allow the documents to lay flat, while velo &  thermal binding,  typically used dedicated to thicker  documents, do not  have lay-flat capabilities.

Plastic coil binding is relatively new, however is being well accepted. application of plastic binding is identical to wire binding  with few advantages. Plastic bind strips  are available in much longer dimension (up  to 36"), come in wider variety of  colors, & are easier to  close.  only with  plastic binding, greater presentation design is possible  & cost  of business appliance & supplies is less than just with  wire.

You could expect to spend  between $200 &  $400 dedicated to a  manual  coil binder  that punches  up to twelve sheets , binds up to �" thickness.  Electric coil binders cost between $500 , several thousand dollars depending on quantity  of sheets punched & binding thickness.

Plastic Comb
The most popular binding technology, plastic comb  binding offers some unique properties.

Plastic combs  are the least expensive of all  bindings.  Comb bind  strips are easy to  assemble,  durable, available in wide variety of colors, , will bind documents  that are from  �"  to  2" thick. Most  importantly,  comb-bound documents may be reopened to remove or insert  pages.  One drawback  is that plastic comb bind strips are sold  in maximum longness  of 11".

Comb binders are the most affordable  binding systems. Manual systems costing as little as $150 will punch 5-7  pages and bind up to twenty  pages: Higher  end models are typically priced under two thousand dollars.

Wire Loop
When impressive presentation is key, "Double Loop Wire" binding  makes a clear statement of  quality. Although operational  costs are bit more  than some other forms of binding, your clients could appreciate the difference. Double loop wire offers clean, consistent appearance. Once the wire loop is  inserted into document, it is then closed  either by the similar  binding machine or by separate  closer. The use  of  additional closing business appliance  will depend on the manufacturer. Wire loop bind strips  are  available in  several  colors , longness up to 11", & would  bind  document sets that are from �" to 1" thick. 

Wire loop bind strips can be used in  most plastic comb  bind machines: Most  wire loop binding business appliance are  reasonably priced between $500 & $1,000.

Velo
Velo binding does not  use coils, loops, or  comb  strips to close  bind documents. Instead, Velo binding is  procedure where holes are punched into pages and two  long fabric-like strips of plastic  are applied  to hold  the document together. Velo bind  systems could  bind documents up  to 15"  long in limited numbers.  real strength of velo binding is speed.

For standard document  sizes (8.5"x11"), velo bind business appliance come in both  manual &  automatic models.  Higher-end models are capable of feeding, punching & binding up to  18,000 sheets per hour into more than 700 sheet bound documents. Additionally,  as with plastic  comb binding,  Velo binds strips could be opened and  refastened so pages could  be added or removed.

Although velo binders  are available as low-end solutions, most are manufactured as high production units ,  are sold from $3,000 up  to $10,000 dedicated to  units that would bind hundreds of document sets per  hour.

Thermal (Tape)
Thermal & tape  binding  uses thermal glue, either in a  wrap-around cover (thermal) only with integral glue strip or tape  coated only with thermal glue (tape).  It is a relatively economical form  of binding , lends itself well to mass production, especially when long runs  of  the similar document are being bound:

Both thermal & tape binding machinary can accommodate documents  only from 5 to 500 sheets (2.25" thick).
Most  business appliance come along just with little "start-up" adhesive, however the user need purchase adhesive  separately only from machine. wrap-around cover or magnificent bind is the common paperback book. Pages are glued along edge so no punching is required: After adhesive  has been applied, business appliance  will trim any excess materials from the document: Pages  may be  added or replaced by reheating the glue in thermal binding machine , simply  inserting or removing pages: only for tape binding, control panel on equipment would inform  the user of  which tape size  should be used based on thickness of the document. The tape bind could be  glued to the outside spine of cover securing document, as opposed to thermal binding where the bind  is part of the cover that wraps around the document:

Much like velo binders, thermal and  tape  binders are available as low-end  solutions.  However, most are manufactured as high production units & are sold that are from  $3,000 up to $10,000  dedicated to units that  would  bind hundreds of document sets per hour.

Binding Punches
Binding punches punch holes in documents either manually or electronically. Manual punches usually punch as many as 10 to 15 sheets per punch, while  electric  punches usually punch anywhere up to 17 or  even as  many as 45 sheets  per punch  depending on model.  Although  separate from one  another,  punching  equipment are intended to be  used in tandem only with  binding  machines.
In  only some cases, business appliance physically attach to  one another for a complete punch & bind station.  Buying separate punching business appliance is good idea dedicated to high volume punch demands because it could  free  up  combined punching and binding machines, while  increasing output:

Bindery Staplers
Bindery staplers  are made  only for  stapling together extra thick documents containing as  many as 250 sheets. Manual  models could staple more sheets  than electric models.  foot pedal dedicated to extra stapling strength  frequently powers stronger manual  bindery staplers.
One crucial consideration dedicated to bindery  staplers is their throat  depth. in case  documents  need to be saddle stapled, bindery stapler only with  long throat depth is preferable: Bindery staplers are a good idea only for quick & simple assembly of documents: They are easy  to use & take up very little space. downside is  that presentation excellency isn_t as nice as  only with other binding options  , documents are more easily  loosened from bind.

Padding Presses
Padding presses use adhesive glue to make  "pads" out  of stacks  of  paper. Padding presses are magnificent only for padding carbonless forms,  note pads, and scratch  pads.
clamp secures the paper to  the base of the  machine, where the glue  is applied  to one end of stack. Once the  glue has dried,  stack can be cut into individual pads.
The biggest consideration when looking to purchase a padding press  is the dimension of height  of the  stack that  the padding press  could  handle. Some padding presses could pad  stacks up to 5.75", while better models  can pad stacks up to approximately 20". 

• Alignment Guide - Assists user in setting pages for proper punching

• Bind Strip - The type of  binding used to connect individual sheets into a bound  document (comb, spiral,  tape) 

• Comb Size Selector - Permits the usage of various comb sizes dedicated to binding

• Comb Spreader  Control - Keeps combs spread evenly  ensuring the quality ,  durability of the bind

• Cooling Tray - Lets bound documents dry & solidify while they stack onto one another

• Dies - The actual spokes that punch holes into the paper

• Document Set  - A  number of individual  sheets bound together 

• Double  Loop Wire (Twin-Loop) - Wire bind strip inserted two  loops per punched  hole

• Fixed Margin Depth  - Aligns paper  in standard punching position

• Jog Plate  - Warms  adhesive for thermal binding

• Mandrels - spindle or axle used  to secure  or  support the thing being bound

• Maximum Binding  longness - The longest dimension  of paper that  the  business appliance  could handle

• Maximum Binding Thickness  - The largest width capacity of edge  of document 

• Punch  - Incorporated or standalone device punches  holes in to  sheets before bind strips are inserted

• Perfect Binding - type of thermal binding in  which documents are bound around edge only with "wrap-around" look, commonly known  as paperback

• (Variable) Margin  Depth Selector  - Allows the user  to punch holes in various distances  that are from the margin of page

• Vertical  Book  Placement - Allows the user to insert documents without  hassle of placing them horizontally

• Waste  Tray - Collects excess chads only from punching.