Saddle Stitching Archives - Specialties Graphic Finishers

Singer Sewn Binding

May 2, 2023/in Saddle Stitching, Special Binding /by Norm Beange

Confusing Graphic Arts Terms? Let’s Look at Saddle Sewing

What would you call the binding method in the image above? In the graphic arts industry, finishing methods can go by many names, which can make communication between designers, printers and trade finishers difficult. I’ve heard this binding style called by at least 7 different names!

Center sewn binding (the thread stitches show in the center of the signatures)
Center stitching (this can be confused with saddle stitching)
Singer sewing (the book sewing is done on a brand of Singer sewing machines)
Singer binding
Center thread sewn binding
Pamphlet stitching
Passport binding (travel passports are bound with this method)

Which is the most descriptive and least confusing term? I prefer the term Saddle Sewing because the entire industry relates to saddle stitching and this is the same style (except the metal stitches are replaced with thread).

Singer Sewn Binding

We’ve automated our Saddle Sewing process, so our pricing for larger runs of 10,000+ is cheaper and our turnaround time is shorter! Please give us a call if this binding method is the best fit for your book project.

I don’t often repeat products, but we have now automated our Saddle Sewing process and can also bind thicker booklets!

Told your folding job is too large to run? We can fold 44” wide!

April 11, 2023/in Saddle Stitching /by Norm Beange

Look at this extra wide sheet folding job we did recently on one of our large format machines! This piece is 42.5” wide, which is way too large to run on most folding machines.

American and Canadian printers work with us because very few bindery trade binderies in North America can fold jobs up to 44” wide or 70” long and in the quantities we produce.

For folded mailing jobs requiring remoistenable gluing, our machines can do “U” glue, bang tails, cold glue pockets, ink jetting and tipping.

Our folding machines can do every type of basic folding:

Plow folds
Buckle folds
Accordion folds
Parallel folds
Roll folds
Gate folds
Short panel folds

… and even the “they say it can’t be done” folding!

We’re a trade bindery that offers services that are tough to find elsewhere. Do you have a folding that’s larger than 30”? Do you have a job with many fold combinations? Please give us a call if you’re having difficulty finding a finisher!

Pop Up V-Fold Cards Produced in Superspeed

August 16, 2022/in Saddle Stitching /by Norm Beange

This complex saddle stitched booklet has multiple folded panels and a v style folded popup, which was produced completely automatically in a single pass on our high speed box gluing machines.

These types of folders are often done on folding machines, and either require hand gluing or multiple passes, which increases the price and delivery time.

Specialties Graphic Finishers

Would you like to know more about the possibilities of the Pop Up V fold card? Or would you like to know which one of our products would suit the needs of your concept? Feel free to contact us, we would love to help you find an innovative option.

Tipping Inside Pocket

August 9, 2022/in Saddle Stitching, Tipping /by Norm Beange

We’re a Smart Bindery that Finds Creative Solutions

This tip-on book cover featured this week is no ordinary job. It looks like a simple folder, but ultimately becomes the cover of a saddle stitched booklet. The client needed a pharmaceutical information sheet (folded on lightweight stock) to be tipped to the inside cover of a saddle stitched book. Not only did we figure out how to tip-on a lightweight folded brochure to the 2-up covers of a saddle stitched booklet, we did it without multiple machine passes!

The slow way would be to saddle stitch the booklets and then reopen the cover to tip-on the folded pharmaceutical insert. We found a better solution. If there’s a smarter, faster way to do a job, leave it to us!

These covers start as 2-up 3 panel folders. As the third panel of the cover is “backfolded,” a lightweight medical brochure is simultaneously inserted and attached with fugitive glue. This ensures that the tip-on stays in place during the subsequent saddle stitching stage and eliminates the need for multiple machine passes.

The end user simply pulls the inserted piece out of the “pocket” formed between the 2nd and 3rd panels.

If you want a bindery that works smart, give us a call!

Saddle Stitching with Foldouts

January 18, 2022/in Die Cutting, Saddle Stitching /by Norm Beange

Saddle Stitching with Foldouts

We can produce highly unusual Saddle Stitched books that have multiple foldouts!

Saddle Stitching

Most binderies can do 6pg foldout covers on Saddle Stitched books, but only a few (like us!) can also add foldouts from the top and/or bottom and/or face.

Saddle Stitching With Foldouts

These operations require die-cutting, oftentimes some very tricky folding and then Saddle Stitching. We can do all these processes in-house, using one of our 4 – 40” Bobst/Brausse die cutters, box gluers, buckle/plow folders and Mueller saddle stitchers.

SADDLE STITCHING – DELICATE COVERS

March 16, 2021/in Saddle Stitching /by Norm Beange

A common problem we see with Saddle Stitched books is when the chosen cover stock has a beautiful texture and finish. These stocks look beautiful . . . until they go through a Saddle Stitcher. The result is a scratched and scuffed book cover.

We have the solution to this common problem! The images below show what we do so solve this problem.

First, we drill 2 large round holes in blank, lightweight stock and then fold as a 4-page. Then, we run the books through a normal Mueller saddle stitcher with the blank cover on. When the Saddle Stitched books are removed from the stitcher, the blank covers fall off.

Triangle Saddle Stitched Book

January 5, 2021/in Saddle Stitching /by Norm Beange

Not only is the book featured in this email the shape of a pennant it is also saddle stitched!

Depending on the thickness, size and stock weight of the book, we shape the signatures using one of our 4 high die/PMC die cutting machines. We can produce Triangle Saddle Stitched Books in a wide range of sizes and can even add colored wire stitches.

Triangle Saddle Stitched Book

Saddle stitching Triangle Books is just one of the many add-ons our bindery offers that help your products sell!

Contact Us For More Information

Miniature Saddle Stitch Books

February 18, 2020/in Saddle Stitching /by Norm Beange

We run miniature saddle stitched books on one of our Muller saddle stitchers. We can go down to as small as 2.25” x 2.5”, multiple up, all automatically, with volumes from thousands to millions, with child proof stitches or with loop stitches etc… We can, in one pass place stitches one quarter of an inch apart! We have had occasions when the miniature saddle stitched book were bound on the short side and subsequently PMC (or high die-cut) shaped at the bottom. If you need miniature saddle stitching, please call.

Miniature Saddle Stitch Books