Books Bound for Greatness

“IBT was the original digital book manufacturer, starting in 1991,” says Bob Lindberg, vice president, sales, IBT Global, Troy, N.Y. “We have evolved into the largest digital case-bindery, while keeping strong soft-cover capabilities.

“Recognizing the need for further bandwidth, we have worked with the German binding-equipment manufacturer Kolbus to improve the electronic and mechanical workflow of our digital binding lines,” Lindberg adds. “We have increased capacity to 60,000 paperback and 35,000 case-bound units per week. We are finding that the increased capacity separates us from the ‘digital dabblers,’ and allows major publishers to place significant blocks of work without hesitation.”

IBT Global and other book specialists have realized that publishers’ more aggressive schedules and evolving manufacturing business models require continued analysis and investments in finishing, as well as in the pressroom.

“In 2007, we installed the Xeikon 6000 to print low quantities of four-color books—25 to 1,000 copies,” Lindberg recalls. “By adjusting the two-shot gluing stations on our Kolbus line, we now offer a bona fide case-binding solution for short-run color books printed on coated paper.

“Moreover, we have recently installed GP2 lines to further develop our one-off, POD market,” he notes. “The new equipment enhances our short-run case-making, casing-in and building-in capacity, resulting in faster schedules for POD customers. Quantities below 50 run on the new GP2 line, and above 50 remain on the Kolbus.

“The bottom line is that … we have created an economical model for publishers to print one or 1,000 copies at the same high-quality level,” Lindberg explains. “… It is imperative that economical binding solutions keep pace with improvements on the printing front.”

Solutions on the Market
There are a number of solutions on the market to address publishers’ demands for quality book-binding needs.

Baumfolder Corp.
Solution: Baumbinder 1500
Features: Makeready clamps designed to ensure even pressure is applied, two applicator glue rollers, and a reverse roller that returns excess glue to the tank. It may be complemented by an optional air-float table for use with jobs requiring heavier stocks.
Solution: BaumBinder 200
Features: A single-clamp perfect binder that runs at speeds of up to 200 cycles per hour. It may be complemented with an optional cold-glue tank, wire side-glue device, a jogger at the feeding position, and a fume/paper chip absorber.
Book manufacturing customers include: Quad/Graphics, Maul Belser, ILTE
Contact: 937-492-1281, www.BaumFolder.com