The second step is the actual binding. The more carefully the holes are made in the punching process the easier it is to insert the mechanical binding element and close it according the operating method of each system. The binding elements have to be chosen according the thickness of the book to be bound.

One of the main benefits in digital printing is electronic collating. When using punching and binding machines the book collected for binding has to be first re-divided into bundles of maximum 10 to 15 sheets as the capacity of the punching stroke is a limiting factor. As an example a book of 150 sheets needs usually at least ten punching strokes.

When punching the sheets you have to be very careful as any mistake in positioning the holes in any direction forms an obstacle for the binding element. Re-dividing the sheets into bundles for punching, careful punching and re-collating them in the right order to be bound, means unnecessary work and lost time.

Different punching methods require different tools, starting from the most common loose leaf binder with two or four holes (8-12 or 8-8-8 in Europe). Underneath you can see some of the most common ones.

Metal Wire Binding (double loop)

Plastic Comb Binding

Coil Binding