Velobind binding is a thermal binding method that uses two-piece plastic binding spines to create a durable bind. Unlike adhesive-based thermal binding methods which can often be edited fairly easily, documents bound with Velobind strips cannot be edited unless the spine is completely removed and replaced with a new spine. In this post, we learn more about the Velobind binding method and take a closer look at some of the unique benefits it offers.

The Basics

There are two types of thermal binding – binding with an adhesive spine and binding with sets of pronged plastic bars (commonly referred to as “Velobind spines”). The most popular thermal binding style involves the application of an adhesive-lined spine to a set of documents using a specialized machine that heats the spine and melts the glue, allowing adhesive to permeate the documents and create a bind. These spines are available in a few styles, including varieties that have pre-attached covers in both soft- and hard-cover formats.

Velobind-style binding is preferred by people looking to create tamper-proof binds, as it is impossible to edit without having to rebind the document. To bind with these spines, the user punches the documents with the proper hole pattern (generally 9, 11, or 14 holes, depending on the document size), inserts the pronged side through the holes and then slides the flat side onto the prongs. The document is then placed into the binding machine, which trims the prongs to size and melts the ends to secure the bind. Because the individual prongs act as reinforcements for the spine, Velobind strips can be used to bind documents up to 3″ thick, which is considerably thicker than most other conventional binding styles can accommodate.

Velobind Spines

Velobind spines (also called “hot knife strips”) are available in 9-, 11-, and 14-pin varieties, which accommodate binding on 8 1/2″, 11″ and 14″ paper. They are able to secure up to 750 pages in a single book, making them the preferred choice for large documents. Hot knife strips come in a broad range of attractive colors like other binding spines, but they are only offered in three sizes (1″, 2″, and 3″)  which makes stocking them much easier. Since the excess length of the prongs is cut off during the binding process, the same 1″ spine can be used to bind a document that is 20 sheets or 250 sheets.

Velobind Binding Machines

Binding with Velobind spines requires punching with a specialized hole pattern before performing the thermal bind, which generally means that the machines cost more than other thermal binding systems. Because of the additional punching step, Velobinding is commonly regarded as being one of the most secure and tamper-resistant binding styles, which is why it is often used in binding legal documents.

The process for binding with Velobind strips is fairly similar to binding with other styles. To begin, the sheets of the document are punched in sets (based on the punch capacity of the specific model being used) until all pages as well as the covers have been punched. Next, the flat half of the binding strip is placed into the binding channel so that the alignment pin is inserted into the corresponding hole on the strip. Then, the pronged ends of the spine are inserted through the holes in the document. Finally, the prongs are inserted into the holes on the flat strip so that the document is sandwiched between them. The binding process is then activated (see the manual for your machine for specific instructions), and after about 30 seconds, your document is ready to remove from the machine.

In Review

Creating professional-looking bound documents is easy with thermal binding. Velobind binding is a secure and durable binding method that uses a thermal binding machine to melt and fuse a two-piece plastic binding spine. With its versatility and strength, Velobind binding is a great way to create bound documents that look and feel professionally-made at a reasonable cost.

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