Merry Photo!

Entry Level Finishing

Of course, every job must be finished, so On Demand Machinery (ODM) offers the Sticker XXL for casing-in and Smasher XXL for building-in, which are self-adjusting and require no make-ready. They can produce 100-300 covers per hour and are ideal for entry-level hard cover bookbinding production.

Sticker XXL produces cased-in 4x4-inch up to 18x18-inch books up to ½-inch thick. It features three-position blade height control and removable glue stations for fast clean up. Operators place the book on the wing while the machine is in the home position. After the book is loaded, the operator depresses a foot switch that drops the wing below the glue rollers. A servomotor brings the two glue stations in contact with the book while the wing travels upward, applying a uniform coating of adhesive to the end papers. As the book emerges from the glue pots the operator places the cover in position with a cover guide and removes the book from the wing.

The operator then places the cased-in book in the Smasher XXL and depresses a foot pedal that brings the top joint iron in contact with the book to accurately find the book’s joint area. Next, dual buttons are depressed that activate the hydraulic system that raises the bottom steel platen and clamps the book with 10 tons of pressure. The Smasher XXL has an adjustable dwell timer that controls how long the book remains under pressure. The heated joint irons have a thermostat for varying the degree of temperature.

Of course, there are many companies that provide media, inks and toners, output devices, and finishing equipment that will allow printers to dip their toes in the photo printing waters. Those mentioned in this article are just a sampling of the types of products available. Whether you choose to dive in for yourself or to outsource the products, this is a fast growing potential profit center that could keep you happily humming throughout 2012.

Former Printing News intern Brandon Campbell contributed to this report.