Perfect Binding Soft Cover Square Spine Book Production

Perfect Binding and Paperback Books

Perfect binding is one of the most common types of book manufacturing in the market. Square spines look like high quality case bound books but they have a soft paper cover. These books have a relatively low cost of production but retain the high quality look. They are great for novels or reference materials. 

Paper creasing is a very important step of perfect binding. The cover must be creased to keep from cracking and to provide a hinge point when the book is opened. Some perfect binders have a creaser built in but many do not. Creasing can be done ahead of time but its important to have the creases in the right spot which adds complexity. Offline creasing requires very accurate spine measurements of the book blocks and the registration of the book covers must be kept through the perfect binding phase.

Perfect binding falls mainly into two glue categories. EVA and PUR. Both glue types have distinct advantages and disadvantages and it's important to weight your options before deciding on hardware. Some machines are capable of accepting both types of glues, usually with a swappable glue tank. Typically machines are made for EVA or PUR but not both. 

Perfect bound books are almost always trimmed on three sides to create a high-quality finished look. Trimmers also come in a wide variety. Some use a single-knife that cycles three times while others have three knives for quicker cut cycles and faster production. Contact our sales team if you have any questions.