Heftung

Heftung, in the context of printing and bookbinding, denotes the binding or attachment of sheets to form a book or pamphlet. The term derives from heften, German for to staple or fasten. Heftung can refer to the binding method used as well as the act of binding itself. It is most commonly applied to light, short-run publications such as brochures, magazines, catalogs, and other pamphlets, where a quick and economical binding is appropriate.

Common forms of Heftung include Drahtheftung, or staple binding, which uses metal staples to hold pages together; and Sattelstichheftung, a saddle-stitch method in which folded sheets are bound along the spine with staples. Fadenheftung, or thread sewing, gathers sections and sews them with thread for greater durability. In practice, Heftung is often performed by machines in print shops, sometimes in combination with glue or later finishing processes to improve durability.

Limitations of Heftung include lower durability compared with sewn or glued bindings, and reduced suitability for high-page-count books or heavy use. Staples can corrode over time and may not be appropriate for archival purposes. Nevertheless, Heftung remains widely used for economical bindings and for media intended to be distributed widely and recycled easily.

Historically central to mass-produced pamphlets and periodicals in the 19th and 20th centuries, Heftung remains a standard technique in modern print production for softcover runs and quick-turnaround publications. It is distinguished from other binding methods by its speed, cost efficiency, and the ability to produce a flat, foldable spine.