Bielomatik
German bookbinding manufacturer Bielomatik (www.bielomatik.com) began developing a cost-effective solution for short-run case-binding in 1999. Bielomatik designed modules to cut the book-block, make the case, emboss the case and case-in the book. At Graph Expo, the manufacturer introduced the Bookmaster 360, the casing-in module it brought to the market this year. In 2003 Bielomatik plans to make the entire book factory available. The company considers the Bookmaster 360 to be the most important module. Needing no set-up time, it automatically case-binds a book in 10 seconds. The 360 moves a book block, either cut sheet from a digital press or threaded signatures, into the case feeder where double fan-gluing with cold dispersion adhesive is applied. Gauze is set to the spine, a headband is attached and the book is cased-in and rounded. The next book to follow can be a different size and the run-lengths can be set to any amount.