To meet growing demand for faster turnaround times, shorter runs and higher-quality products, book manufacturers are investing beyond the pressroom.

By Gretchen A. Peck

Océ North America
Solution: DigiStitcher DST2
Features: The DigiStitcher DST2 supports just-in-time production of saddle-stitched booklets. It supports A4, A5, A6, letter and oblong formats, and accommodates papers ranging from 40lb. offset to 100lb. offset. It comes standard with three-knife trimming, and optional center-knife trimming and combination folders may be added.
Book manufacturing customers include: Not available for publication.
Contact: 773-714-8500, www.oceusa.com

On Demand Machinery
Solution: Super Sewer
Features: ODM’s Super Sewer was created for sewing short-run books printed on-demand. It features Back Tack Technology, which enables the machine to perform a reverse back stitch on the head and foot of the book block, ensuring a strong side sew that will not unravel, as standard side-sewn books tend to do.
Book manufacturing customers include: Perma-Bound Books, a div. of Hertzberg-New Method Inc.; Edwards Brothers Inc.; Williams Printing Co.; Paro Print Provider
Contact: 908-351-6906, www.odmachinery.com

Standard Finishing Systems
Solution: SPF/FC Series Bookletmakers
Features: The SPF/FC Bookletmakers are available in two models (FC-20 and FC-200A), and are used in-line with digital print engines to produce booklets of up to 80 pages or 96 pages, respectively.
Book manufacturing customers include: Arvato Services Inc., a Bertelsmann Co.; Pearson Education; Offset Paperback Manufacturers, a Bertelsmann Co.
Contact: 877-404-4460, www.sdmc.com

Gretchen A. Peck is a freelance author who writes about the international printing and publishing industries.