Fastback Strips: Fast & Innovative Thermal Binding from Powis Parker

As we’ve outlined in previous posts, thermal binding is quickly becoming one of the most popular binding styles, both because of the ease of production and the attractiveness of the finish. The Fastback binding system, created by Powis Parker, is among the most user-friendly and unique thermal binding methods. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the Powis Parker Fastback system, and learn what separates it from the competition.

Fastback Binding Strips

The Basics

Fastback Super Strips are vibrant, paper-based strips that have thermal adhesive pre-applied to the underside. Though there are other similar thermal binding tapes on the market, Powis Parker Super Strips have a few distinct features that make them special. They are manufactured to be extremely ecologically friendly, with at least 50% recycled content in the paper component (including up to 25% post-consumer pulp) and an environmentally neutral adhesive that does not release any harmful fumes. The adhesive side of each strip utilizes a patented “intelligent” coding that identifies the size and style of the strip being used, and the binding machine automatically adjusts to the optimum settings, which eliminates the need for manual configuration.

Powis Parker’s Fastback Super Strips are designed to work exclusively with the Fastback 20, Fastback 11, and Fastback 15xs binding machines, as well as the Powis Printer (a foil printing machine that allows users to create custom spines for their books). They are available in 15 attractive colors and three convenient widths. The narrow strip accommodates books 3-125 pages in length (up to 1/2”), the medium strip binds documents 126-250 pages long (1/2”-1”), and the wide strip is capable of binding 251-350 pages (1”-1 1/2”). They are rated with a pull strength of 50 lbs., and take as little as 15 seconds to create a secure bind.

Binding with Fastback Strips

Binding with Fastback strips is very easy. If you are using the Fastback 11 binding machine, documents are bound in a simple four-step process. Once the machine has warmed up, the first light on the three-light indicator panel will light up. Insert your documents, and align them to the right. When the second light begins flashing, press the green button on the machine. The third light will then begin to flash, indicating that it is time to insert the binding strip. Remove the book once all three lights flash, and allow it to cool briefly on the cooling rack.

Binding books with the Fastback 20 is a simple, three-step process. Jog and align the pages of your book before placing them into the binding machine, then press the green button. The Fastback 20 will automatically measure the thickness of your book and the display screen will show the required Super Strip width (either narrow, medium, or wide). Insert the requested binding strip and the machine will do the rest. Once the binding process has finished, remove the book from the binding channel and place it onto the cooling rack to allow the glue to set. 

If you are using the Fastback 15xs binding machine, the binding process is even easier. After the machine has reached the proper temperature, the display will read “Ready to Bind.” The book clamps will automatically open to a narrow width, but they can be opened to accommodate thicker documents by pressing the “OPEN” button. Align your documents and insert them into the binder, sliding them all the way to the right side of the opening. Next, press the green “BIND” button, which closes the book clamps. The machine will automatically determine which spine width you need to use based on the thickness of your document and will list the appropriate spine size on the display. Feed the correct strip into the machine, and the binding process will begin. Once binding is complete (approximately 15 seconds), the display will read “Remove Book.” Remove your document from the machine and allow it to cool on the cooling rack for a few minutes.

In Review

Thermal binding is one of the easiest ways to achieve a professional-looking, book-like finish on any document. There are a number of great thermal binding machines on the market, but the Powis Parker Fastback systems are the most innovative. The machines themselves are carefully designed for ease of use and are packed with unique features. Fastback Super Strips not only have the widest color selection on the market, but they are also ecologically friendly and surprisingly intelligent. Though the systems may not fall within the budgets of smaller organizations, mid-sized and large businesses that bind frequently will find them to be a worthwhile investment.

Making Your Own Custom Calendars with Wire Calendar Hangers

With the beginning of a new year just around the corner, there’s no better time to create your own custom calendars! Whether you’re using them for promotional giveaways for business associates or as unique gifts for friends and family, custom calendars are a great way to share your message with others all year long. Even if you don’t have the budget for large runs of professionally-made calendars, it is still possible to achieve professional-looking results in your own home or office when you use wire calendar hangers – and it’s surprisingly easy! In this post, we’ll take a closer look at wire calendar hangers and discover how they can transform ordinary color copies into a extraordinary wall calendars.

The Basics

Wire calendar hangers are small, sturdy pieces of wire that have a shallow curve located in the center. This curve is aligned with a notch on the edge of the document (which is created using a half-moon punch), and the resulting opening allows the calendar to be hung using a nail or push pin while still providing clearance for the pages to be turned. They are available in two sizes – 6” wires that accommodate calendars that are 6”-9” on the bound side and 10” wires that are designed for calendars that are 10” or larger on the bound edge. The calendar hanger is secured in place by a standard wire binding spine (recommended size: 5/16”).

The Process

Creating a custom calendar with wire calendar hangers is easy! All that is required is a 3:1 pitch wire binding machine, a half-moon punch, 5/16” twin loop binding wires (3:1 pitch), wire calendar hangers, and color copies of your photographs or promotional images that have been prepared with your favorite calendar software. Begin by using the half-moon punch to create a semi-circle notch in the center of the edge to be bound (the edge that will be used to hang the calendar). Next, align your document in the punching portion of your wire binding machine so that it has an even number of holes on both sides (note: this may require you to disengage a few pins to avoid punching partial holes in either the notched section or the outside edges of your calendar). After punching your document, cut your wire binding spine down to the appropriate length for each side of the top edge. Insert your pages as well as the wire calendar hanger into the two spine sections, and use your wire closer to complete the bind. Now your custom calendar is ready to share with a friend or colleague.

In Review

Almost everyone has a calendar hanging in their home or office, so creating a custom calendar is an excellent way to share your photographs or promotional messages with others throughout the entire year. Though professionally-produced calendars can be expensive (and often require large production runs), making your own calendars is a cost-effective and surprisingly simple process. By using a wire binding machine, half-moon punch, twin loop wires, wire calendar hangers, and your artwork, creating small or large batches of calendars is as easy as binding a document. If you’re looking for an original gift idea for friends or family, or a useful promotional piece for business associates, custom calendars may be an ideal choice for you.

Understanding Roll Laminating Film

Laminating is one of the easiest and most cost effective methods of preserving and protecting important documents.  From menus and pricelists to posters and children’s artwork, laminating has applications in a wide array of businesses and industries. When it comes to laminating film, roll laminating film is the least expensive and most versatile option, but selecting the right rolls for your machine and your specific needs can seem a bit overwhelming. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at roll lamination film and learn about the various styles available on the market today.

The Basics

Most roll laminating film is thermal (requiring heat to achieve a proper seal) and made from polyester, though there are specialty films that utilize other application processes, such as pressure sensitive film, or materials, such as nylon film. When purchasing roll laminating film, there are four important factors to consider: core size, film grade, roll width, and film thickness. There are other variables to keep in mind, such as film finish (including clear and matte varieties) and roll length, however these are less critical than the other factors.

Key Factors

Being aware of the key variables (core size, film grade, roll width, and film thickness) between different roll laminating films will help you avoid purchasing film that is incompatible with your roll laminating machine. The core size corresponds directly to the size of the mandrel that holds the film on the laminator. There are three standard core sizes: 1”, 2-1/4”, and 3”. The size of the core often correlates to the length of the roll, since a longer roll requires a thicker mandrel to support it.

The film grade indicates the quality of the adhesive that is used to affix the laminate to the document. Standard film (also called “school film”) is a low-cost material that is ideal for laminating standard 20lb paper with light ink coverage. Pro-grade film is designed for professional use, with a lower melting temperature and more aggressive adhesive that makes it a good choice for digital or offset printing. Additional film grades are also available on the market, including DIGIKote low melt (which has a reduced melting temperature), SuperStick (which has an increased adhesion strength), pressure sensitive (which uses non-thermal adhesives), and nylon “lay-flat” film (which is designed for single-sided applications), however they are significantly more expensive and are not compatible with all roll laminators.

The roll width represents the width of the laminating film, and is dictated by the size of the machine itself. Rolls are available in standard sizes as narrow as 9” and as wide as 60”. Roll laminators cannot use films that are wider than their specified maximum widths, however they can use rolls that are narrower, which means that you can minimize waste when running smaller documents by purchasing appropriately-sized film rolls.

Like laminating pouches, roll laminating film is sold in a range of thicknesses, as thin as 1.5 mils and as thick as 10 mils. This metric represents the combined thickness of the film and adhesive that makes up a single layer of laminating film. Similar to pouch laminating machines, roll laminators are designed to accommodate specific film thicknesses, so it is important to use only the film that your machine can handle. Attempting to laminate with film that is either too thin or too thick will result in improper adhesion and can potentially damage your machine.

Selecting the Right Film

Roll laminating film is often categorized by film grade and/or core size. Once you’ve navigated to the section that corresponds to the film you’re looking for, you’ll see that each film roll is listed with three measurements (such as 25 in. x 500 ft. x 1 in.). The first number represents the roll width, the second number denotes the roll length, and the final measurement indicates the core size. In the case of the example, the roll width is 25”, the length is 500’, and it has a 1” core size.

In Review

Because of all of the variables involved, there are literally thousands of roll laminating films on the market today. As a result, locating the rolls that work with your machine and are appropriate for the type of laminating that you are doing can seem confusing. Knowing a few key details, namely the core size, film grade, roll width, and film thickness, will make selecting the proper film much easier. Most of this information is listed in the owner’s manual for your machine, or can be located by doing an internet search using the model number of your laminator. Spending the time to learn about your machine will not only save you time in selecting the right film, but will also help you avoid the costly mistake of purchasing film that is not compatible with your machine.

Thermal Soft Covers: A One-Step Binding Solution!

With more and more organizations creating their own bound documents, making your own presentations stand apart from the rest is more important than ever. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at thermal soft covers to see how they work and to learn about how they can be used to add a professional touch to any document.

The Basics

Thermal soft covers are used for perfect binding, a popular binding style that uses heat-activated adhesives to create an attractive, uncluttered bind. Perfect binding is commonly used on both soft cover and hardcover books, as well as magazines, because it allows for easy stacking and storage (unlike other binding styles which tend to have a bulkier finish). Since the documents are secured with glue, no punching is required to achieve a secure bind.

Thermal Soft Covers

Like traditional binding covers, thermal soft covers are made from paper or clear plastic (or a combination thereof) and are available in a variety of finishes. Instead of having separate front and back covers, thermal soft covers come as a pre-scored, solid piece (similar to a file folder) that has a strip of thermally-activated adhesive down the center. To create a bind, simply place your document within the cover and insert the cover into your thermal binding machine (following the manufacturer’s instructions). Because the covers are made as single pieces, they are available in different spine sizes that are specifically designed to accommodate the thickness of your report. They are offered with spines as small as 1/16” (capable of holding 1-10 pages of standard 20 lb. paper) and 1-3/4” (capable of holding 280-350 pages of standard 20 lb. paper).

Customization

There are three standard styles of soft thermal covers – solid, window-cut, and transparent front. Solid covers are made from a single sheet of paper, and are available in a wide variety of textures and colors. Window-cut covers are identical to solid covers in style and design, however they have a small window cut out of the front cover that allows for a portion of the text or artwork from your title page to be visible. Transparent front covers have a paper back and a clear plastic front, which enables the entire title page to show through without requiring the reader to open the book.

One of the best features of this style of cover is that it can be customized in a number of ways, which makes it great for promotional documents, catalogs, pricelists, tax reports, or even yearbooks and photo books. They can be screenprinted, foil stamped, embossed, and offset printed, which gives you (or your organization) complete control over the look and feel of the finished book. When you combine the available customizations with the wide selection of cover stocks and styles, the possibilities are practically limitless!

In Review

Perfect binding is a great way to achieve a book-like finish on almost any document. It creates a slim spine that is stackable and easy to store (unlike other conventional binding methods). Thermal soft covers are used in conjunction with a perfect binding machine, and come with thermally-activated glue pre-applied. Since they already have the adhesive in place, you simply have to insert your document into the cover and place it within the thermal binding machine to create your bind. Thermal soft covers are available in many attractive colors and textures, and can even be customized with screenprinting, foil, embossing, or offset printing to create your ideal book.

If you are looking for a way to make your presentations, reports, and even photo books look stand out, then you’ll definitely want to consider binding with thermal soft covers. Not only are they among the most professional-looking binding covers, but they also require very little effort to use. With almost endless options for customization, you can design custom thermal soft covers to fit all of your binding needs.

Extra Savings on Overstocked Products!

Have you been looking for the best deals on binding and laminating supplies? Then you’ll definitely want to check out Lamination Depot’s clearance section! From deals on overstocked products to savings on recently discontinued items, you’ll find a wide selection of products at prices that are impossible to beat. New items are being added often, so be sure to visit our clearance area frequently to take advantage of these special offers before they are gone! These limited-time deals are only available while supplies last.

Create Your Own Custom Dividers with Printable Index Tabs!

High-speed copier tabs from Lamination Depot are blank, printable tab divider sets that allow any organization to create custom index tabs through their printer. They are available in a variety of standard configurations, which gives the user the ability to select the exact layout that fits their document binding needs without having to pay for custom tab blanks.

Why Should You Use Printable Index Tabs?

If your business is sending all of its training manual printing and binding to outside vendors, then you will experience considerable savings by bringing them in-house. Preparing your own presentation materials internally also helps to expedite edits and revisions, making your organization more responsive in time-sensitive situations. If you work in the legal, pharmaceutical, insurance, or financial industries (or any other industry that handles sensitive documents), then preparing your own reports internally with custom printed tabs will allow you to maintain a high level of privacy for your clients.

Glossary

Bank – Each full row (or set) of tabs is referred to as a “bank” (also called “tab cut”). The bank size is usually written in one of two ways – “X bank” or “1/X cut” (where “X” is the number of tabs in the bank). The most popular tab bank is five tabs (“5 bank” or “1/5 cut”), though bank sizes ranging from three to ten are commonly available.

Collation – The order in which pages are sorted is referred to as “collation.” See the “Collation Styles” section for specific information regarding available index tab collation styles.

Mylar – This clear, printable coating reinforces the tabs, making them tear resistant. Mylar reinforced tabs are highly recommended for use when creating frequently-handled documents like pricelists or training manuals.

Punch Pattern – The punch pattern indicates number of holes that are present in the paper. Three-hole punched tabs are designed to fit standard-sized three-ring binders. The 19-hole punch pattern is the standard pattern for comb binding. Unpunched tabs are also available to allow users to punch them to their own specifications, including 43- or 44-hole coil binding, 2:1 or 3:1 pitch wire binding, or 11-hole VeloBind patterns.

Collation Styles

Reverse Collated: Also called “single reverse collated” or “single reverse.” The tabs are collated in reverse order (i.e. 5-4-3-2-1). This style is most commonly used in copier models from the Xerox DocuTech family as well as machines from Kodak, Canon, IBM, Heidelberg, Océ, Ricoh, and many others.

Straight Collated: Also called “single straight collated” or “single straight.” The tabs are collated in order (i.e. 1-2-3-4-5). These tabs are used in the Xerox DocuColor family as well as copier models by Savin, Toshiba, Ricoh, Konica Minolta, Gestetner, and Canon.

Uncollated: The tabs are sorted in groups by tab (i.e. all 1, all 2, all 3, all 4, all 5). These are the most universal collation style as they can be used by any machine capable of printing index tabs.

Index Tab Collation Examples

Which Copier Models are Index Tabs Compatible With?

Lamination Depot’s printable index tabs are compatible with a wide variety of popular copier models, including copy machines by Canon, Xerox, Ricoh, Toshiba, Konica Minolta, Kodak, and IBM. Click here for a complete list of compatible copiers.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

Click here for a brief overview of common copier tab issues, along with helpful tips for resolving them.

Free Index Tab Templates

Click here for 1/3 Cut (3 Bank)

Click here for 1/4 Cut (4 Bank)

Click here for 1/5 Cut (5 Bank)

Click here for 1/6 Cut (6 Bank)

Click here for 1/8 Cut (8 Bank)

Click here for 1/10 Cut (10 Bank)

Custom Slot Punching Now Available!

Have you ever shopped for pre-punched laminating pouches, only to find that the size that you need is not available with a slot punch? Or do you have specialty punching needs, such as multiple slots or unusual slot placement, but don’t have the time or slot-punching equipment to do the punching yourself? Then you’ll love Lamination Depot’s new slot punching service! We’ll punch any size pouch with a 9/16″ x 1/8″ (14mm x 3mm) slot for only $10 per hundred, with a turnaround time of five business days. This convenient service is available by calling us at 1-800-925-0054.

Custom Slot Punching from Lamination Depot

The PaperLock Binding Machine: An Eco-Friendly Binding System

Ecologically-friendly products are continuing to grow in popularity, and Earth-conscious binding solutions are no exception. Though many binding systems have traditionally used plastic spines to secure documents, an innovative new system uses paper to create secure and attractive binds with ease. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the PaperLock binding machine, a powerful, table-top binder that offers a number of unique benefits.

PaperLock Binding System

The Basics

The PaperLock binding system uses adhesive-backed paper strips to create secure, eco-friendly bound documents. Though the machine itself does not perform any punching, it utilizes the same 19-hole punch pattern as traditional comb binding. To bind with the PaperLock system, begin by inserting your pre-punched document into the binding slot and clamping it in place. Insert the appropriate size of PaperComb into the holes and remove the adhesive backing, then use the Overturning Panel to flip the comb onto the document. Once the comb has been turned onto the spine, simply pull the binding handle down to complete the bind. After you have loosened the clamp, retrieve your finished document from the binding slot.

Benefits

Like presentations bound with plastic binding combs, documents bound with the PaperLock system lay completely flat when opened, making them ideal for reports and proposals. Because the spine is flush against the surface of the paper, the resulting documents are easy to stack, file, and mail. PaperComb spines are secure and tamper-proof by nature, however you can add an extra layer of protection by signing or applying a company stamp across the seam of the bind – a feature that is unique to this binding style. Since the binding spines are made of paper, they are Earth-friendly and biodegradable, which is why a growing number of environmentally-conscious organizations have begun to use them in place of traditional comb binding spines made of plastic. Unlike plastic combs which require users to stock a broad range of sizes to accommodate different documents, PaperCombs can bind as few as four pages or as many as 200 with only three sizes. They are available in many attractive colors that will compliment any corporate brand identity.

In Review

The PaperLock binding system is an innovative machine that transforms paper strips into secure and attractive binding spines. The machine itself is easy to use, however it does require the use of pre-punched paper in the 19-hole comb binding pattern, as it doesn’t perform any punching. If your organization has been looking for a way to bind documents without having to use traditional plastic spines, then the PaperLock binder may be a great solution for you.

Transparency Film: A Versatile Substrate with Endless Possibilities

Transparency film has been widely-used within the educational industry for decades, however the development of versatile, new film styles that are compatible with common copier machines has gained them popularity with many other professional organizations. In this post, we’ll cover the basics of the various styles of transparency film, and provide some insight into ways that they are being used in professional environments.

The Basics

Transparencies are thin, flexible sheets of clear material (generally cellulose acetate) that can be written or printed on for use in presentations and reports. Some styles have sensing stripes, which are narrow strips of removable paper that run down one side of the transparency and help copier machines detect the film as it moves through the rollers. To determine whether or not your machine requires that transparency film sheets have sensing stripes, consult the owner’s manual (or visit the manufacturer’s website) for more information.

Transparency Film Varieties

There are four varieties of transparency film – write-on film, plain paper copier film, laser film, and inkjet film. Write-on film is commonly used with overhead projectors, and can be purchased in pre-cut sheets or bulk rolls. It is most frequently used in conjunction with dry erase markers, which allow the user to write non-permanent messages, but permanent markers can also be used to create non-removable markings. Plain paper copier film is specially designed to run through plain paper copiers, allowing you to create large quantities of identical transparencies in either color or black-and-white. Laser film is similar to plain paper copier film in that it can be used to make a high volume of black-and-white or color prints, however it is made to work specifically within laser printers. Inkjet film allows the ink from standard inkjet printers to adhere to the film, but often requires extra drying time and the use of special print settings.

Uses

When used with overhead projectors, write-on transparencies provide a great visual aid for presentations and conferences, since they allow the speaker to make illustrative notes and sketches that correspond with questions from the audience. Plain paper copier films, laser films, and inkjet films make eye-catching inserts into bound documents, as they can be used to create overlays in employee training manuals, financial reports, or even legal presentations. Transparencies even have craft applications, and can be used to add interest to scrapbook pages and art projects, especially when personal photos are printed onto them.

In Review

With all of the assorted varieties available on the market, transparency film makes an excellent addition to any school or office environment. From the board room to the classroom, these versatile films have almost limitless applications, such as providing visual aids during presentations, creating custom overlays in company manuals, or even for making unique art projects. To ensure proper performance, it is important that you select the proper transparency style for your purposes: write-on film for use with dry erase markers, plain paper copier film works with plain paper copiers, laser printers utilize laser film, and inkjet film is designed for inkjet printers. If you choose to use any of the varieties made for copiers or printers, be sure to consult your owner’s manual for complete usage instructions and to determine if your machine requires the use of a sensing stripe.

56 New Reasons to Bind with Screw Posts!

In our post “Getting to Know Screw Posts: A Binding Solution with a Twist,” we introduced you to screw posts (also called “Chicago screws”) – versatile, inexpensive, and popular binding posts that are reusable and easy-to-edit. Now, we’d like to share the newest additions to our collection of screw posts. Lamination Depot now carries 56 new varieties, including black-, antique brass-, and gold-finished aluminum posts as well as multi-function plastic posts in black and white. In this post, we’ll recap some of the benefits of this unique binding style and take a look at the new screw posts that are now available.

Screw Posts from Lamination Depot

The Basics

A screw post is made up of two separate pieces – a threaded post attached to a head and a cylinder attached to a matching head. To create a bound item, a hole is first punched through the documents to be bound. The cylinder is inserted into the hole, and then the threaded post is inserted into the cylinder and tightened. Because the heads are of a larger diameter than the hole, the documents remain securely bound between them. To make changes within the bound document, simply unscrew the threaded post from the cylinder, insert your revised documents, and reassemble the screw post.

New Styles

In addition to our popular, silver-finished aluminum Chicago screws, we now carry aluminum posts in gold, black, and antique brass finishes. All of our aluminum screw posts have the following specifications:

Outside Post Diameter: 3/16″
Screw Head Diameter: 7/16″
Screw Head Height: 1/16″ (top and bottom heads will add a combined 1/8″ to post length)
Screw Posts 3/8″ & Smaller: Post is threaded all the way through
Screw Posts 1/2″ & Larger: Post is threaded on one side
Recommended Hole Size: 1/4″-5/16″

Our new plastic screw posts, which are available in black and white, offer the same features of our aluminum binding posts as well as a special permanent binding capability not available on other screw posts. To create a standard, removable bind, slowly twist the screw into the post, threading it into position. For those projects that require a more secure, permanent bind, simply snap the screw directly into the post (without twisting), which locks the post into position. The threads have barbs that lock the post into place when inserted by pushing as opposed to twisting.

In Review

Screw posts are a great way to quickly and easily bind documents of all sizes, without needing a machine or other specialized equipment. With 56 new binding posts now available, there is a post style for every application, from elegant menus and eye-catching swatch books to oversized blueprints and thick manuscripts. In addition to standard, reusable aluminum posts that are available in four finishes, new plastic binding posts give users the option to create permanent binds by snapping the posts into place instead of twisting them. If you have the need to bind something, but don’t have the budget to invest in new equipment, then you should definitely give screw posts a try.