Bindery

A bindery is the department or workshop in a printing operation dedicated to finishing and binding printed sheets into final products. It handles post-press steps after printing: folding, gathering, sewing or stitching, gluing, trimming, and adding covers and endpapers. Bindery work converts signatures into books, magazines, catalogs, brochures, reports, and other bound materials. The term is sometimes used to distinguish finishing from the printing process.

Common bindery operations include folding, collating, perforating, scoring, and binding. The main binding methods are saddle stitching for magazines and booklets; perfect binding for softcover books; and case binding for hardcover books. Other finishes include wire- or comb-binding, lay-flat bindings, laminating, die-cutting, embossing, and foil stamping. Equipment ranges from guillotine cutters and folding machines to gathering lines, stitchers, glue applicators, and case-making lines. Materials include cover stock, endpapers, and various adhesives such as PVA glue, hot-melt, or PUR.

In modern publishing, bindery services are offered in-house by printers or by specialized bindery houses and may accommodate short runs and variable data finishing in digital workflows. The bindery also handles quality control, ensuring correct page order, spine width, trim sizes, and cover fit. Environmental considerations, such as waste reduction and sustainable materials, are increasingly part of bindery practice as printing industries adapt to changing demand.