Our bindery is geared
up for medium-to-short run, quick-turnaround work and offers
an extensive range of equipment for paperback and hardback binding
with perfect (cutback), slotted (slot perforated) or sewn options.
We are happy to offer technical advice to help
you find the most appropriate binding solution, meet your
budget and specific market requirements.
Biddles offer the following binding styles:
Perfect (unsewn or cutback) binding: an
adhesive binding style where the backs of gathered sections
are cut off and the leaves are glued at the binding edge.
If the book is to be case bound (hardback) a lining is also added to
the binding edge. This is the most economical form of binding.
Slot perforated binding (sometimes known
as slotted): another form of adhesive binding
in which a series of slots (or notches) are cut into the spine
at folding stage to allow the adhesive to penetrate. The book
is bound as complete sections (rather than leaves) and is
therefore stronger than perfect (unsewn) binding and offers a comparable but significantly cheaper product
than sewn binding. This is our standard method of binding.
Sewn binding:
after gathering the sections, a sewing machine inserts threads
through the spine of each section and then uses further threads
to join each section to the other, to form the book block.
This is the strongest but most expensive form of binding.
I appreciate the trouble taken
to liaise with me and the cover designer over production
matters, which are in stark contrast with my experience
with other printers."