2014 Fall

Digital Printing Leads to Print Finishing Opportunities

November 26, 2014

by Marco Bigianti and Andreas Lanter, Bielomatik-Matti AG

Anticipated development of the worldwide annual offset and digital printing volume.

The market for print products is changing. Instead of high volume production runs, smaller volumes tailored to individual consumer requirements are in demand. Due to digital printing, such highly personalized media now is economically feasible.

The market for traditional printing processes is declining, as a recent survey on the global printing market conducted by the British research institute Smithers Pira concludes. Digital printing, on the other hand, shows growth (Reference Chart 1). By 2018, digital printing equipment will have a 21-percent market share of the global printing market – with a trend of accelerating growth. It clearly comes at the expense of the “classic” processes like web and sheet-fed offset printing, whose market shares are stagnating or decreasing.

Digital printing is predicted to grow by 26 percent over the next four years (Reference Chart 2). The main driver of this development is the trend to shorter print runs, not only due to new publications in small editions, but also because of “just-in-time” production that only prints the number of copies required or reduces the print job into various smaller volumes.

According to Canon, in the year 2000, almost 40 percent of print products had volumes of over 10,000 copies. This share is expected to decline to 25 percent in 2020. As a result, more than half of the printing products will be in short runs between one and 2,000 copies; and, in 2010, the short run share already was 48 percent.

The advertising industry naturally tries to address potential customers’ messages in a manner that is as targeted as possible and without any waste. Instead of sending an impersonal advertisement in accordance with the “one size fits all” principle, the recipient should preferably receive only those messages which are of interest. These interests would be verified through a CRM database. The consumer himself desires – and orders – individual printed products. It starts with a photo book or a calendar, progresses to a printed pillow case as a gift and leads all the way to having the consumer’s own image on the cover of a magazine. The potential is huge. There are no limits to the creativity of agencies and providers of print services.

Digital printing – what’s next?

Up-to-date and predicted shares of printing technologies in relation to worldwide print production.

It is no surprise that digital printing is booming. A growing number of providers of print services are investing in appropriate systems or at least considering doing so. However, it often is overlooked that simply buying a digital press instead of an offset press and pretending that everything else will resolve itself is not enough. On the contrary, if one wants to take the full advantage of digital printing, it is important to consider the complete value creation chain from a digital printing perspective and to coordinate all individual steps according to the design of the final product.

A proper plan for the print finishing, in particular, often is being ignored, even though this area is very complex and demanding. Should the product be glue-bound? Should a backstitched brochure be developed? Will the final product be wire comb- or spiral wire-bound? Or will the final product be cut, folded and sent as a mailing? Is there anything else that should be labeled or inserted? Should an additional coupon be integrated to tear off? The design of the end product and the necessary processing steps represent a great challenge.

Another factor to consider is time: As a flexible process, digital printing enables considerable yield increases for the entire process. Current inkjet printing technology offers a speed of up to 250m/min from a roll of paper – without the time-consuming set-up time that one faces in offset printing. This advantage must not be wasted in the downstream process, and inline finishing equipment can meet the potential of digital printing via inline processing without any bottleneck in speed or performance. However, many companies utilize individual machinery or stations for various processing and binding methods. Current systems cannot fulfill the requirements of digital printing because of longer set-up times, various unsynchronized production speeds and equipment-related interruptions or shortfalls in the process flow. Also, in many companies a true digital workflow lacks full implementation.

Technology now exists that will result in highly variable inline production. Todays digital equipment offers modules that can be combined and integrated in a production line according to product requirements. Users benefit from a very fast process and streamlined production, as well as a manufacturing line which utilizes less space than an offline or a nearline production system. Additionally, the inline processing allows for less manpower and a greater level of safety during production due to a minimized manual interference.

Conclusion

Currently, the printing industry is facing structural changes and profound consolidation. The print runs are getting smaller and smaller, with an increasing number of individual print jobs. To be profitable with these order structures, the highest flexibility in printing and finishing – as well as an increased performance in workflow – is required. Overall, inline finishing equipment can result in much shorter turnaround time for orders, resulting in more orders per time unit than with “conventional” production processes. Print finishing companies may wish to discuss with their print partners the opportunities provided with inline finishing processes in a digital workflow.

With Bielomatik-Matti AG (short: bielomatti), a joint venture of bielomatik Leuze GmbH + Co. KG (Neuffen, D) and Matti Technology AG (Sulgen, CH), a new player enters the market to enable printers to address the above-mentioned problems. The purpose of this venture is to combine Mattis know-how in the integration of digital printing systems with the extensive converting technology portfolio of bielomatik. The Matti Group, headquartered in Sulgen, Switzerland, specializes in the integration of inkjet print heads and systems. Matti develops, produces and sells machines, equipment and solutions for inkjet high-speed printing, including aggregates for the prepress and postpress processes. The machine manufacturer bielomatik (located in Neuffen, Germany) is a leading solution provider of paper processing and plastic welding machinery. The portfolio for paper processing includes cutting and packaging lines for small formats (cut-size), folio-size sheeter for paper, board and foil, as well as security and banknote paper. Furthermore, the manufacturer has production lines for exercise books and writing pads with wire comb-, spiral-, glue-, thread- or stitch binding. Combining the know-how of bielomatik and Matti results in a digital printing and converting solution provider that enables customers to reap the benefits of digital printing and converting to maximize profits. For more information, visit www.bielomatik.com.

Holum & Sons’ Holiday Box Earns Industry Accolades

November 26, 2014

by Jen Clark

Holum & Sons Company Inc., Westmont, IL, picked up a Product of Excellence Award for its work on the 2014 Holiday Box.

When the staff at Holum & Sons Company Inc. set out to build a holiday-themed promotional gift, Richard Holum, president, said the design team started thinking “inside” the box to create a one-of-a-kind candy box that featured two levels of treats for its clients and prospective clients. “We wanted to reach out and get their attention in the most creative way,” he said, adding the gift box was well-received.

Holum & Sons has been a leader in the binding industry for more than 80 years. Located in a 40,000-square-foot facility in Westmont, IL, the company has been family-owned and -operated for four generations. For this project, Holum wanted clients to experience the companys craftsmanship and creativity in rigid packaging.

“We had a great number of responses from clients who informed us they had showed our gift to multiple people and all had some fun with it,” Holum said, adding the box was intended to be a little tricky – “a puzzle, so to speak” – so that it would grab and keep the recipients attention. “We wanted them focused on our product. We wanted to “wow” them with our creativity.”

Holum’s team certainly “wowed” the judges of the BIAs Product of Excellence Awards. The 2014 Holiday Box picked up a POE award in the Self-Promotion – Loose Leaf Manufacturer category. The BIA also recognized Holum & Sons with the Manufacturer of the Year award, as well as POE awards in two other categories. The company also was named Manufacturer of the Year in 2013 and has won a total of 30 POE Awards between 2008 and 2014.

The burgundy box features a silver foil-stamped holiday greeting and looks like a traditional two-piece rigid box with a lid that can be removed vertically.

“To get to the second level of treats, you have to pull the box open horizontally, thus revealing a second tray located under the first,” Holum said. “All design, sizing and manufacturing were done in-house using our skilled tradesmen.”

Like most projects, the boxs creation involved round-table discussions with the creative team. Once a plan was devised, the engineering team calculated all the sizes for a production prototype, Holum explained.

“After initial engineering, the plant produced a mock-up and worked very closely with engineering to keep track of any design changes necessary for fit, form and function in a production run,” he said. “Once any production and engineering obstacles were dealt with, we produced two prototypes using the material requested. One was for final approval, while the other was kept for reference, communication and insurance that we produced a product exactly like the sample piece. In the end, there were no surprises. Everyone knew exactly what to produce and what to expect upon delivery of the finished product.”

Materials used in the project included Gane graphics board, Fibermark Shimmer by Corovon, API foil, Wisdom adhesives, Ampelco ribbon and Adams magnets. Production aspects included sheeting, guillotine cutting, diecutting, foil stamping, casemaking, box wrapping and hot melt gluing on equipment from Kolbus, Polar, Brausse, Acromark, Nordson and Pot Devin, as well as casemaking and box miter machines.

The project did present some challenges – “fit, form and function,” Holum said. “Let’s face it. There are some things in this world that just can’t be done by a piece of equipment with a computer on it.”

Communication and attention to detail also were important aspects of the holiday box’s creation, as they are on pretty much every project the custom creative presentation packaging house produces.

“Every size on every piece of material is critical to the fit, form and function of a product,” Holum explained. “Prototyping is an essential learning tool on every job to expose any issues long before production. During prototyping, you can get close, but rarely get 100-percent correct on the first try. Custom work always has its idiosyncrasies hidden in the details, which dont show up until you actually produce a piece and learn from that experience. Once you see an issue, then you can adjust the design, materials or production methods to achieve the desired result.”

Holum & Sons takes great pride in having maintained its roots in handmade, turned edge products.

“What started a long time ago in my grandfather’s Chicago basement continues to this day,” he explained, adding that there is a willing desire to continue to create one-of-a-kind, elegant, handmade products of the highest quality available.

“While we have advanced and modernized with the times, we’ve never lost touch with our roots in old-world craftsmanship. Our challenge here simply was sizing our parts correctly. Our manufacturing talent took care of the rest.”

Planning for Plastic Spiral Binding

November 26, 2014

by Anna C. Massey, Gateway Bookbinding Systems Ltd.

Plastic coil comes in a variety of colors and often can be matched to a theme or to a company’s corporate identity.

If you aren’t already doing plastic spiral binding, you really should be. Plastic spiral has become one of the most popular mechanical binding choices in today’s market. The durability of plastic spiral, the vast array of available colors from which to choose and advancements in the automation of the coil binding process have caught the attention of most binding consumers.

Base compound makes a difference

Most plastic spiral manufacturers produce coil using a PVC (polyvinyl chloride) compound. The required colorant is added during the extrusion process, at which time the PVC and colorant pellets are melted and mixed. The extruded filament is wound as a single strand profile onto spools.

Different profiles are produced for particular coordinating coil diameters. The spooled filament then is put through the forming process and manufactured into the specific diameter, pitch and length of coil that is required.

Although most plastic spiral binding utilizes this PVC base compound, what goes into that compound can differ between manufacturers. Every compound will have different levels of additives that can and do affect the finished product. Additives such as impact modifiers help insure the coil is durable and will maintain its shape. Lower grade materials are not, however, as strong and may contain fillers that bulk up the product with no actual benefits. Lead-free and phthalate-free spiral binding also are very important features, especially when producing childrens books.

All coil is not created equal

Pitch is – without a doubt – the most misunderstood term within the industry.

Different coil manufacturers can and do use different profiles or gauges of filament to produce the various coil diameters. A 10mm coil may be produced with a filament of 2.0mm (.080″). Others may use a thinner filament, like 1.8mm (.072″) or even 1.5mm (.060″).

If you are price shopping for a potential coil supplier and are strictly looking at the cost on the printed price list, you may not be comparing “apples to apples.” If a manufacturer is using a very thin filament to produce its product, the price list will look more appealing because less material is being used to produce the coil. It is important to know what profiles of plastic a coil supplier uses to make its various coil diameters.

Plastic spiral binding that is very thin can cause problems during the insertion process. Plastic spiral that is too thick also can cause difficulty when inserting, which will reduce production numbers.

Recommendations can and should be made based on the book thickness, with the proper punch-hole size and shape being discussed. The type of coil inserting equipment being used also makes a difference.

A sharp lead edge on the coil is another important factor when the coil is running through the punch holes. It also has been proven that a “reverse cut” on the larger diameter/thicker profile coils will aid with coil insertion even further. Talk to the supplier to understand the options that are available.

Pitch – the most misunderstood term

You’ve heard the term and have probably been asked, “What pitch do you use?” Its a simple five-letter word, but it is – without a doubt – the most misunderstood term within the industry.

The dictionary definition of pitch, as it pertains to machinery, is the distance between corresponding points. In the world of plastic spiral binding, pitch is easiest to illustrate through punch patterns. There are a number of different pitch options available, and they are not all the same.

Unlike double-loop wire binding with the simple 3:1 and 2:1 pitch choices or comb binding with the standardized rectangular-shaped 19 holes on the 11″ edge, coil binding is a little different.

The various pitch choices for coil binding have come about because of a combination of originating European manufacturers (that work with the metric system) and North American manufacturers that utilize traditional Imperial measurements.

For simplicity’s sake, remember 1″ equals 25.4mm.

.2475″ Pitch – This is fast becoming the pitch of choice. This hole pattern fits the best on the common 11″ and 8.5″ (as well as the European A4 and A5) binding edges without the need to pull pins or trim to center. At first glance, the .2475″ pitch looks a lot like four holes within the inch, but it is indeed different than the traditional True 4:1. The .2475″ pitch also is most commonly available with a 5x4mm oval punch hole.

True 4:1 Pitch (also known as .250″ or ¼” pitch) – True 4:1 is probably the most common of pitches. Many North American equipment manufacturers work with this pitch. It literally means that there are exactly four punch holes within every 1″. Although a common pitch, it does mean that punch pins need to be pulled in order to center this pattern on the 8.5″ or 11″ edge.

6mm Pitch – Common amongst European equipment manufacturers, the 6mm pitch does not mean six holes per inch. It means that there are 6mm from the center of one hole to the center of the next hole. It equates to four and a partial hole within every 1″.

5:1 Pitch – Although very common 20 years ago, the 5:1 pitch (five holes per inch) rarely is utilized these days because it really only worked well for thin projects. Any book thicker than 3/8″ became a challenge to bind with such tight spacing and a typically smaller punch hole. There even is a metric 5mm pitch that is close to a 5:1 spacing. Few equipment manufacturers offer these options any more.

Wider 3:1 or 2.5:1 Pitch – These wider pitch options are literally worded. The 3:1 pitch means that there are three holes within every 1″ measurement. The 2.5:1 means just that – 2 1/2 holes per 1″. These pitch choices commonly are used when binding thicker books. The wider spacing makes coil insertion much easier. It also is recommended that the punch hole itself be a larger 6.5×5.5mm oval shape. This larger punch hole provides the coil more room to wind its way through. That size of punch hole can and does improve productivity by a good 40 percent.

There even are more pitches available – like a .312″ pitch or an 8mm pitch. These were common with metal spiral binding and sometimes still are used with plastic spiral.

The right pitch for a binding job primarily depends upon two factors – the books thickness and length of the binding edge. For example, even though the .2475″ pitch fits best on an 11″ binding edge, if a job with a 10 7/8″ binding edge is being produced on automated equipment and trimming is not an option, then a 6mm pitch would be better suited for the job.

Talk to the plastic spiral binding supplier. It is the suppliers job to make sure customers are set up with the most productive equipment available – within budget – that will enable efficient and successful handling of coil binding needs.

Anna C. Massey is director of marketing for Gateway Bookbinding Systems Ltd., Winnipeg, MB, Canada. For more information, call 800.665.7884 or visit www.plastikoil.com.

The Splurge/Save Strategy

November 26, 2014

by Trish Witkowski, foldfactory.com

The classic Iron Cross fold, at left, can be translated easily to a rectangle, shown at right.

I’m coming up on my second decade of intensive folding research. That doesn’t seem possible to me when I think about it, but then I look at the collection I’ve amassed and think, “Yeah, I guess that’s about 20 years worth of stuff.”

When you study something for a long period of time, once in a while all of the random thoughts and facts and observations align, providing an “A-ha!” moment. I had one fairly recently, and I call it “The Splurge/Save Strategy.”

Something I’ve noticed in analyzing thousands of pieces of mail and marketing material is that marketers tend to wait for special occasions to choose specialty formats. There’s a reason for this – usually special projects have extra special budgets. And, the designers and marketers get more interested and excited about the subject matter of their special projects, so there’s a different level of enthusiasm for “special”. This can translate into a higher level of engagement or creativity in the process.

Often, with “special projects” comes “special permission” to blow a lot of money on extra postage for hand sorting – primarily in the form of square, USPS letter-sized mail – to the tune of an extra $0.21 per piece. “Special” is characteristically short-run, too, reserved for special events and high-budget, highly-targeted mailings. In most cases, the perception is that “special” is inevitably expensive and out of reach.

The Splurge/Splurge strategy

The square Corner Folder format, at left, can be made into a rectangle.

A specialty format (plus super-high non-machinable postal rates) is what I call a Splurge/Splurge strategy. This combination puts “special” out of reach for most marketers on a day-to-day basis. As someone who has shared really amazing and fun printed formats on video and in presentations for years, I can tell you that a majority of marketers look at specialty formats like window-shoppers, gazing longingly at something they can’t have. The financial implications of “special” get into their heads and prevent them from even thinking about the possibility of doing something interesting at any time that is not classified as “special.”

Now, I know I’ve been saying “special” a lot up to this point, but there’s a reason for it. I’m about to make a profound observation.

Splurge/Splurge is great – if you’ve got the money and the occasion. However, I believe that any project can become more special and engaging. I don’t believe in saving specialty formats solely for special occasions.

So, what if we could change the game? What if we flipped the Splurge/Splurge strategy on its head and took sky-high postage out of the equation? When you do this, in my opinion, magic happens. I call it my Splurge/Save strategy.

The Splurge/Save strategy

While the most common format for a Snake Fold is a square, shown at left, it can be converted to a rectangle.

A Splurge/Save strategy involves converting a specialty format into a mail-friendly (i.e. machinable) size and shape. As a result, you get to have your specialty format, but you can mail it at normal, machinable or even bulk rates. Depending upon the format, you can even self-mail! In my opinion, it changes everything.

Here’s a great example. The Iron Cross fold, shown in the first illustration, is a format everybody loves, and everybody designs these in a square format. I think it’s the only proportion most people have seen it in, so by force of habit (or the chance to produce something square), they make it square. However, the classic Iron Cross easily translates into a machinable, self-mailing rectangular format. These are hand-folded at lower quantities, but can be machine-folded offline or inline when the quantity goes up.

Next up: The Corner Folder. We’ve all seen these – the square sheet with all four corners folding in to meet at the middle. It’s a cool format that seems impossible to modify, but it’s not. If you’re looking to avoid square, add an additional fold on the horizontal… and a rectangle results (see the second illustration). The accuracy is critical, but it can be done.

I have a sample in my collection that Rickard Bindery, Chicago, IL, machine-folded for The Home Depot. This should be hand-folded in smaller quantities, of course.

Even a format that is as complex as a Snake Fold can become mail-friendly. The most common format for a Snake Fold is a square (if you ever get to see one… they’re very rare). In the third illustration, you’ll see the conversion to a rectangular format. Just an FYI: Snake Folds generally cannot be folded by machine, no matter how high the quantity.

Another specialty format that is great for direct marketing is the Swinger Fold. There are many variations of this format, but this is a great one from my friends at Specialty Print Communications (SPC) in Niles, IL. The format uses die cuts and scores to create a swinging effect.

In the sample (fourth photo), perfed coupons swing out and invite the recipient to remove them.

This brings me to my next point: “special” often can be manufactured by machine. Quantity, of course, has everything to do with whether or not it’s worth the effort and makeready. It’s truly amazing what can be done – inline iron crosses, pop-ups, swingers and more. SPC, and other companies like it, is making “special” efficient and attainable at quantities from the hundreds of thousands into the millions of pieces.

On the flip side of the coin, hand finishing isn’t such a big deal if the postage is cheap. The postage savings helps to balance the cost of any hand bindery work that may be needed on smaller runs. You can get the big impact of a creative format with small postage. Splurge/Save. See what I mean?

Now for the pep talk

Swinger Fold. Print production and inline automated finishing provided by Specialty Print Communications, Niles, IL.

Rather than getting overwhelmed by all of the specialty configurations that could be thrown at you by your customers if you plant this seed, my suggestion is to start small.

Pick three to five specialty formats and create samples of them in a self-mailing letter size; then, offer them to your customers.

Even better, give your customers an idea of ballpark pricing at different quantities and document the postage savings (conversion from hand-sort to machinable). Let those customers know you have the digital dieline and the metal dies for their use. Watch and wait… I have a strong suspicion they’ll be calling you in no time!

Trish Witkowski is chief folding fanatic at foldfactory.com. An educator, author, speaker and award-winning designer, Witkowski specializes in creative solutions for mail and marketing. She hosts the online video series “60-Second Super-Cool Fold of the Week.” Witkowski has an MS in Printing and a BFA in Graphic Design from RIT. If you’re looking for a place to start with Splurge/Save strategies, Witkowski offers several specialty dielines in mail-friendly proportions in the online store at www.foldfactory.com.

Using the P.L.U.S.H. Sales Process Methodology

November 26, 2014

by Chuck Reaves

In the history of recorded time, no customer has ever said, “The price is too high,” and meant it.

Even though it is the most frequent objection that salespeople hear, the price objection is never valid. So, when the customer mouths the words, “The price is too high,” what are they really trying to say? It can be one of a number of things, such as:

“I don’t perceive the value to be higher than the cost.”
“I don’t see any difference in your offering and your competitor’s offerings.”
“I don’t think my problem is as expensive as your solution.”

Notice that the word “price” does not appear in any of these responses.

There are two ways to sell: value-added selling and commodity selling. With commodity selling, the customer assumes all offerings are the same and the sale defaults to the vendor with the lowest price. In value-added selling, the customer perceives there is a difference between the offerings and makes the buying decision on cost, not price. The customer will perceive this differentiation when the sales professional has done his or her job.

The only relationship that exists between cost and price is an inverse relationship. The item with the lowest price tag typically costs the most. As an example, you can purchase a shirt for $40 or for $8 – which costs the most? The price difference is obvious, but which one will last longer, look better, feel better, etc.?

Sales is a science, not an art. As such, successful selling follows a process. In quality terminology, this is known as standard work. Even though every salesperson is different and every customer is different, there still are measurable steps salespeople can follow that will drive the sales process away from price and toward value.

There are five principles behind a successful value-added sale. As a memory aid, these steps follow the letters in the word PLUSH. When used effectively, salespeople can overcome or even eliminate the price objection. What would it be worth to never hear the price objection again?

POSITIONING

Begin by talking to the right person. Many purchasing agents use price as the primary differentiation, so who else could you sell to in the client’s organization? Identify the person or department that will benefit most from what you are selling, and sell to them. The purchasing agent may have been given the buying criteria from someone in another department. In that case, the buyer may not understand what they are buying well enough to alter the criteria – even if what you bring to the table is better.

Find the right person and then ask the right questions.

LISTEN

It is amazing what people will tell you. It also is amazing what people will give if you just ask. The secret to successful selling is the ability to ask the right questions the right way in order to determine the customer’s real buying criteria.

Most customers do not know what they want. They will buy something that is not the best solution for them, and they do so based on their limited understanding of what they are buying. Can you keep up with all of the changes that are happening in your market, industry, competitor’s organization or technology? What makes you think the customer is keeping up?

It’s virtually impossible for the human mind to ignore a question. When you use questions, you will engage your customer’s subconscious mind and make an impression. Stop talking, ask questions and listen.

UNIQUE

What really makes the product, service or organization unique? If someone asked what made your product or service different, what would you say? If you were to use words like quality, service, people, etc., you would actually be commoditizing yourself. How many of your competitors are using those same words? Even though your service or quality levels are measurably higher than those of your competitors, using the same words they are using dilutes the value of the differentiation.

What really makes you different? Ask your existing customers.

SOLUTION

Every trained salesperson has learned some aspect of solution selling. It is the backbone of most sales processes.

In value-added selling, sales professionals take it to the next level. They begin by asking some version of a common question: “What are the top three problems facing your business right now?” Seasoned salespeople have learned that the customer rarely will tell them what the problems are, even when they try. They will answer, with something like, “Our sales are down,” “Our attrition is too high,” “Our manufacturing costs are up.” None of those are problems.

They are all symptoms. Something is driving sales down and attrition and costs up. The value-added sales professional understands this. Rather than arguing with the customer – “Isn’t that really a symptom, Mr. Customer?” – and rather than offering a solution, the professional takes two more steps.

The next step is to qualify the problem by asking the customer how and when the problem manifested itself. Then, the sales professional asks what the cost is for each manifestation. By the time this line of interest (not inquiry!) is complete, the salesperson and the customer will have a clear understanding of what the real problem is and what it is costing. When the salesperson quotes his price, it is in comparison with the real cost of the problem it will solve.

HELP

Helping means doing everything the customer asks, and then some – and getting credit for it. Known as the “extra mile”, it probably is something your organization is already doing. Your customer may not appreciate your extra efforts because the customer does not know you are taking those extra steps. Brag about yourself.

To overcome or eliminate the price objection, make sure you are talking to the right person and asking the right questions in order to show which of your specific differentiations are most viable for them. Then, justify the higher price by quantifying your value. Keep your customer and earn referrals by going the extra mile.

Chuck Reaves, CSP, CPAE, CSO helps companies raise their prices and volumes simultaneously through innovative processes, tools and training. With his innovative presentations on sales and motivation, he has inspired hundreds of people to pursue and achieve their impossible dreams. For more information, visit www.chuckreaves.com.

BIA Notebook

August 27, 2014

The Binding Edge

Looking for a trusted company to bind a project? Need a new piece of equipment or need to buy supplies? Make sure to bookmark www.printing.org/BIA, and check out the FindABindery link to locate a qualified binder. Additionally, there is a new BIA Supplier link for a list and description of manufacturers. With valuable listings of BIA members on both the manufacturer and supplier end, it’s easy to find excellent partners to deliver the high-quality work that customers demand.

The BIA continuously is updating this information, but if your company is not listed or the information needs to be changed/updated, please contact BIA Director Mike Packard at 412.259.1704 or mpackard@printing.org.

It Pays to be a Member

Membership truly has its privileges. As an Association, the BIA always is looking for ways to increase the benefits of being a member and increase member ROI. Not only do members save money on registration fees for the well-attended BIA Annual Conference, but they also have access to exclusive reports and information that can help make business more profitable.

By joining Printing Industries of America and Binding Industries Association, members belong to an organization dedicated to supporting and enhancing the industry. Members have an advocate in their corner working to increase their growth and profitability every day.

Some of the new and exciting benefits that BIA members will have access to include the following:

Economic reports
Education opportunities through webinars and the Printing Industries Integrated Learning Center
Technical hotline
Peer groups

Members gain access to an abundance of resources that deliver results to enhance their success today and in the future. Put the power of membership to work!

See the Product of Excellence Award Winners

Take a look at some of the best work the industry is producing. The 2014 Product of Excellence Award winners are definitely this year’s Best of the Best. The Best of Show winners definitely deserve another shout out for their awesome work.

Graphic Finisher of the Year: Pacific Bindery Services Ltd.

Loose Leaf Manufacturer/Information Packaging Company of the Year: Holum Sons Company, Inc.

Congratulations to all the Product of Excellence Award winners in this years competition. The BIA looks forward to welcoming new entries in 2015, so stay tuned for details!