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The binding and finishing that you choose for your document is extremely important as it will determine the overall look of the document. Proper book binding and finishing will leave your document looking ordered, secure and professional. Modern methods of book or document binding and finishing include the following:

• Thermal binding: Pages are bound together by places pieces of cloth or plastic along the edge of the pages and then heated them to fuse the pages together in a book form.


• Spiral binding: Spiral or coil binding involves a spiral of wire or plastic being fed through the holes punched along the side of the pages.


• Wire binding: This is one of the most durable binding methods. Double looped wire is fed through the punched holes and then crimped to secure the pages of the document.


• Comb binding: A piece of plastic with teeth-like projections is used to bind the document. The document is punched and these ‘teeth’ are then fed through the holes and then curled to meet the plastic spine and keep the document secure.

The history of bookbinding and finishing

The very first known book that was bound in a recognisable fashion is dated all the way back in the first century. The binding and finishing of this book was simple pages of sheepskin bound together with wooden splints and rope. Book binding and finishing has since come a very long way.

1. 15^th Century: The invention of Gutenberg’s press in the 15^th century led to the development of better binding and finishing methods. The punching, sewing and binding of the pages were done by hand.


2. 19^th Century: The method of perfect binding was developed in 1895 and this then allowed for paperback Books. This was a major turning point as Books became much lighter, more cost effective to produce and accessible to the public.


3. 20^th Century: The binding process was partially automated in the 19^th century. Binding methods such as wire binding and comb binding for example require holes to be punched by the users and then the document is placed in the binding machine to be bound.

Contact Minuteman Press Port Elizabeth CBD for all your binding and finishing needs.