The prototype on show can bind 100 lay-flat books per hour, but the production model, due for release in September, will bind 500 books per hour, and will handle books up to 420mm long and 50mm thick.

It is targeted at small operations looking to transfer some hand binding to a machine that is inexpensive to run.

Cold glues can be used without compromising quality, said Ribler managing director Franz Landen, because of the binder’s spine milling technology, which prepares paper fibres for better glue absorption.

Good quality results can be achieved on special media such as laminated or thick substrates, he added, but extra drying time is required.

The binder also boasts the environmental benefit of water-based glue which is recyclable and less hazardous to work with than polyurethane glues.

“Hot melt glues can be very toxic and take much longer to break down,” said Landen. “People are interested in the environmental benefits of the binder but mainly the cost-saving implications of the fact that, while the average 5,000 length run of 10mm A4 books requires 130kWh of energy to heat the glue, the Eco binder uses less than 1kWh.”

This article originally appeared at printweek.com

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