In the spirit of the new year, here’s a list of the most popular bindery blog articles from the past year. If you’re looking for a particular bindery or post-press subject, don’t forget to use the search box at the very top of every page. We currently have 175 articles on the subject of bindery and printing to choose from!
Last week we looked at the challenges and some misconceptions about shipping packages in a single-parcel shipping environment. Basically, an individual parcel is subject to huge stress during transit and we discussed several ways to increase its survival odds. (Go Here for the related article.)
Generally speaking, folding book weight stocks is a relatively easy folding machine task. Yet a new operator, upon encountering paper that is lighter than he is accustomed to, might find himself scratching his head wondering why fold consistency is suddenly a problem.
Although this tip might raise more questions than it answers, the real value lies in the fact that it reinforces creative thinking in the face of an unusual bindery problem. So while we might never be faced with this exact problem, it could inspire a solution for whatever post-press problem you’re facing today.
Here’s an ingeniously simple tip on how to eliminate marking problems on a Horizon SPF10 stitcher and folder. It could work on other similar machines too. If you work in a bindery department, it’s safe to say that eventually you’ll have a job with a marking problem, especially on coated, matte or dull coated papers. It doesn’t matter what kind of collator, stitcher, folder or other bindery equipment you’re running. We’re always stretched to the limits of machine, material and labor!
Most of us who work on bindery equipment get pretty good training on how to use the equipment itself, typically through a mix of on-the-job training and instruction by manufacturer’s reps. I suspect that most get very little, if any, training on how to troubleshoot and repair that same equipment. This sort of knowledge is typically a result of experience.
In a previous Bindery Success blog article we discussed problems that can arise when trying to feed thin, porous signatures (usually 4 pages) on saddle stitcher inserters or perfect binder gatherers. Details are here if you want to give it a quick review. Today we have one more quick fix on the subject sent to us by Todd Summers of Nittany Valley Offset.
No matter what we put on paper—inks, varnishes, coatings, foil or film—we must not forget to pay attention to one of the biggest factors in how well paper is printed and finished. That is, of course, the print shop environment.
I’m not sure what my work area says about me. If I were the boss of me I might have to say something to myself. Psychologists love to study all that stuff and tell us it means something about our personalities. I’m sure it does. But what really matters is how our work area aids (or inhibits) our productivity.
As a bindery novice, folding machines with pile feeders made me want to pull out my hair, or on a really bad day, someone else’s hair. The bigger the pile of crumpled paper around the folder, the further away my co-workers would stay. Except for one friend who intentionally waited until I reached the breaking point. With a Cheshire grin he’d slap me on the back and say, “Hey, Andre, how’s it going?!” In time, I learned a few things about pile feeders which didn’t keep my friend away, but they kept the folder running smoothly.