(September 09, 2008) It's a coming together of three leading entities in their respective marketplaces: Muller Martini, one of the world's foremost providers of adhesive binding equipment; BindTech, Inc., a full service book manufacturing company serving the entire United States; and the Bolero perfect binder, the most advanced binding machine in its production class.

"We needed additional capacity to enhance our abilities to satisfy customer needs, we also wanted additional diversification and a way to produce books faster and more economically," states Dale H. Nichols, President of BindTech, Inc., in explaining the forward-thinking behind why his company chose the Muller Martini Bolero perfect binder.  Also key to the decision was Muller's workflow expertise and its ability to tailor the most advantageous adhesive binding configuration specifically to BindTech's business strategies.

Gaining a wider range of product possibilities

BindTech, located in Nashville, Tennessee, boasts the expertise of nearly 300 skilled employees and produces all types of books.  From perfect bound books such as annual reports, to standard sewn hard case bound books, to coffee table books, to deluxe gilded edge leather bound products, BindTech does it all.  BindTech chose the Muller Martini Bolero perfect binder to support its diversified field of products.  BindTech also produces quite an array of turned edge loose leaf ring binders for cookbooks and such, relying on the Bolero perfect binder to handle the fillers of each order.

By purchasing the Muller Martini Bolero perfect binder, BindTech has substantially increased the types of products it can manufacture for its customers.  In fact, the versatile 8,000 cycle per hour Bolero offers the widest product range of any adhesive binding technology – including hot melt or PUR (polyurethane reactive process) in perfect bound, layflat or book blocks for casing-in, and, sewn books.  Furthermore, Bolero can handle the industry's most diverse hard and soft cover book sizes for 1-up and 2-up production.

Having the ability to produce books utilizing PUR process is especially valuable.  Growing numbers of customers are seeking the benefits that PUR provides, such as exceptional layflat characteristics, excellent binding and page pull strength, and outstanding resistance to temperature fluctuations.

Expanding the book manufacturing possibilities of the Bolero perfect binder at BindTech, Inc. even more is the Muller Martini Frontero face trimmer which efficiently and cost-effectively produces gatefolded brochures and books in a single pass.  Producing brochures and books with foldout covers represents an opportunity for binding businesses to deliver added-value services to their customers and extra revenues to their businesses by producing niche products.

Boosting productivity, and profitability

"BindTech needed to update our technology to make set-ups and changeovers faster," continues Mr. Nichols.  The Bolero was the right system to address that need, increasing BindTech's potential to make jobs more efficient by bringing the latest automated functions to the company's production floor. 

Bolero utilizes a JDF/JMF-ready interface and fully automated operation across the entire size range, and, Bolero eliminates time-consuming steps by completing make-readies digitally in moments, virtually on its own – allowing the quickest job preparation possible and significantly reducing the costs. 

Jobs can be downloaded into the Bolero's Commander Control System, either from the digital data files supplied by the Book Data Center or via JDF files. Motorized make-ready adds further efficiency and productivity, enabling the shortest set-up times of any adhesive binding system. In addition, on the fly adjustments allow optimization and adjustment without stopping production, while job recall makes repetitive book production fast and convenient.

Putting the emphasis on quality

The Bolero perfect binder delivers impeccable binding results, and that's yet another reason why BindTech selected Bolero above other adhesive binding machines.  "We wanted to further improve the quality of book products we manufacture," comments Dale Nichols.

Incorporated into the engineering of the Bolero is unique cross brushing action that ensures consistently superior spine preparation. Also installed on the Bolero at BindTech is the Quako quality control system, and, ASIR III camera technology.  ASIR III combines both barcode recognition and image comparison in one system to automatically guarantee that only complete and correctly assembled products are produced.  Plus, the Bolero perfect binding configuration at BindTech includes Muller Martini endsheet tipping technology, making certain that endsheets are precisely positioned and glued inline.

"The Bolero binder will help us give our customers the continued service and quality they deserve with the utmost in diversification," sums up Mr. Nichols.