Felix Stirnimann, member of the board of directors of Muller Martini and co-author of the 36-page guideline says, “When something goes wrong in the finishing process. It is often because the bookbinder is so far removed from the design and specification process that there is no meaningful communication.”

Stirnimann continues, “This latest guideline by the Web Offset Champion Group was designed to close such communication gaps. It focuses exclusively on the topic of print finishing and is entitled ‘Perfectly Finished Web Printed Products’.

“By incorporating designers, customers, publishing houses, printers, bookbinders and suppliers, our guidebook will help to improve communication and understanding among everyone involved in the process chain and thus increase the quality of the printed products.”

The final quality depends not on the finishing process, but also to a great extent on the printing process, according to Muller Martini.

The guide also deals in detail with the topics of paper selection, prepress, printing inks, drying, remoistening and folding. The various finishing processes with their specific characteristics as described in the guideline include:

• Press delivery with specialized topics on trim quality, stability in palletizing and avoiding shipping damages to printed products;

• Saddle stitching with particular focus on preparation steps, three-knife trimming and paper breaks on the spines;

• Adhesive binding with special attention to adhesives, controlling methods and bookbinding systems.

This is the eighth guideline from WOCG in its ‘Best Practice’ series. It can be ordered free of charge from Muller Martini by sending an email to: rbeeler@mullermartini.com.au

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