Perfect Binding: The Way to Make Softcover Books

Perfect binding is the industry standard for creating softcover books—think novels, catalogs, and coloring books. It's perfect for high-volume production, making it ideal for print shops, binderies, and substantial businesses needing sleek, professional-bound documents. Perfect binding machines are a major investment. Let's go over everything you need to know so you can decide if one is right for your needs.

Why Perfect Binding?

Perfect binding offers a polished finish that's hard to beat. It's durable and adaptable to different book sizes and designs. The method features roughing the spine of your book block and then applying adhesive to stick it to a pre-scored cover. This creates a beautiful, clean softbound book that many consider to be the highest quality form of document finishing.

Pros of Perfect Binding

• Professional finish: The final product is polished and durable, making it great for retail, such as novels, magazines, coloring books, etc.
• Customizable: You have the freedom to choose different types of paper and cover stock, as well as books size.

Cons of Perfect Binding

• High initial investment: These machines are costly upfront, but, after the initial investment, the only consumable cost is glue which can be fairly inexpensive.
• Space requirement: Perfect binding machines are usually large, so you'll need a dedicated workspace for them.

What You Need to Perfect Bind

To get started with perfect binding, you'll need:

1. A perfect binding machine
2. Perfect binding glue (either EVA or PUR)
3. A scoring machine for pre-scoring your covers

Great Equipment Features to Look for & Why We Recommend Them

• Automatic job setup and recall: This saves time and effort, especially for repeat projects. Machines that store job settings make future tasks quicker and smoother.
• Advanced quality control: Some machines come with built-in systems like CCD cameras and weight or thickness checks to ensure each book is perfectly bound.
• Versatile adhesive compatibility: Machines that can handle both EVA and PUR glue provide more options and flexibility.
• In-line scoring: Some machines include scoring mechanisms to eliminate the need for pre-scored covers.
• Automatic pneumatic clamping: This feature adjusts the clamp automatically to fit the thickness of each book, speeding up the process.

Who Uses Perfect Binding?

Perfect binding is a popular choice for:

• Publishing companies producing novels, magazines, or annual reports.
• University print shops that bind course catalogs and textbooks.
• Corporate offices that need high-quality bound manuals, marketing materials, or product catalogs.
• Medical offices for creating patient educational materials.
• Design firms producing high-end presentation materials.

Making the Decision

Essentially, any business that wants to regularly produce high volumes of sleek, professional-looking softcover books can benefit from perfect binding. It’s ideal for those who need a durable, high-quality binding solution that reflects their brand’s professionalism. If you are hoping to make softcover books there really is no better option. What you now need to consider is how often and in what quantity you plan to bind to see if you can justify the initial machine costs. If not, no worries! Look into local print shops and binderies to see if they offer perfect binding for your one-off projects.

If you decide that a perfect binding machine is the right choice for you and your business, we are happy to help guide you to the right machine and supplies for your specific needs. Contact us with questions.