by: Kerry C. Stackpole, CAE In the turmoil of change, people sometimes misread what they see and hear. While the floodgates of modern media have brought us an amazing array of information, images, and ideas, it also has brought with it a shocking amount of misinformation and sensory overload. If there's a mantra for the 21st Century, it should be, "take a closer look." That's … [Read more...] about Print Grows Trees
Articles
New Technologies in Cutting and Trimming
by: Amy Bauer Delivering high-quality results and offering the best value to customers in print project finishing are the goals underlying a range of innovations for printers and binders. These new cutting and trimming technologies are streamlining processes and reducing labor costs. The fewer times an operator must intervene during a job, the greater the production speeds and … [Read more...] about New Technologies in Cutting and Trimming
The Art of Traditional Bookbinding in a Fast-Paced World
by: Renée Varella Companies that perform traditional bookbinding services are a rare breed indeed - and getting scarcer in our high-speed society. Here, we profile two businesses that still cater to time-honored bookbinding traditions - one that does a lot of handwork with short runs and another that's found a niche offering traditional bookbinding services with highly … [Read more...] about The Art of Traditional Bookbinding in a Fast-Paced World
A Supplier’s Take: Meeting the Needs of Binders
by Renée Varella When it comes to the bookbinding industry, Rob Mauritz, vice president of sales at LBS, Des Moines, Iowa, does it all. Not only does the supplier work with equipment manufacturers such as Kolbus, Muller Martini, ODM and GP2 to learn what materials its customers need to operate its equipment, the company offers a variety of cover and reinforcing materials, more … [Read more...] about A Supplier’s Take: Meeting the Needs of Binders
Job Costing: Know Your Costs, Know Your Profits
by: Mark Porter, Diemanic MIS There is a simple equation in business that must be followed: PROFIT = SALES - COSTS If a business doesn't know its costs, then how can it know its profits? In good economic times, companies must know their costs to maximize profitability. In tough economic times, they must know their costs to survive. These days, understanding true costs … [Read more...] about Job Costing: Know Your Costs, Know Your Profits
Advantage Book Binding: 25 Years Young
by Dianna Brodine, The Binding Edge Advantage Book Binding Inc. founder and CEO Jerry Nocar is a true American success story. Recently inducted into the Binding Industries Association (BIA) Hall of Fame, Nocar started working in the bindery business as a teenager. He began by sweeping floors (a job his mother got him when he left school before finishing the eleventh grade) and … [Read more...] about Advantage Book Binding: 25 Years Young
Where are they now? A Look Back…and Forward…with Three Former Spotlight Companies
by Dianna Brodine In each issue of The Binding Edge, a bindery or loose leaf manufacturer is placed in the "spotlight," providing an inside look at its history, capabilities, and goals. In this issue, the magazine revisits three of those former Binding Spotlight companies to see what changes have occurred and how the companies have reacted to one of the most challenging … [Read more...] about Where are they now? A Look Back…and Forward…with Three Former Spotlight Companies
Applying Lean Manufacturing to Binding at Duraweld Ltd.
by: Staff For lean manufacturing to become part of a company's culture, the majority of team members must think about continuously improving all processes - then make those ideas a reality. Below is an interview with Jamie Swan, production manager at Duraweld Ltd. in Scarborough, England, with a report on the plant's lean improvements, which began in 2006. Q: What triggered … [Read more...] about Applying Lean Manufacturing to Binding at Duraweld Ltd.
Troubled Times Demand Dynamic Supplier Relationships
by Renée A. Varella In a challenging economy, strong supplier relationships are more crucial than ever. According to Tom Stein in an article at AllBusiness.com, a recent study showed that more than 90 percent of small- and medium-sized businesses reported that solid supplier ties saved them time and money and helped them in this difficult business environment. Here, three … [Read more...] about Troubled Times Demand Dynamic Supplier Relationships
Adhesives in the Bindery: Environmental Impact
by: Ken Kroeger, PH.D., L.D. Davis Industries, Inc. The Cuyahoga River in Northeastern Ohio was ignited by a spark in 1969. The fact that there was so much oil-soaked debris and sludge floating on the river to sustain a fire was an environmental wake-up call for the American people. Many cite the fire as an impetus for the formation of the Environmental Protection Agency in … [Read more...] about Adhesives in the Bindery: Environmental Impact