Perfect Binding and PUR Binding for brochures and catalogues

It is important when you have your brochures and catalogues printed that you choose the correct type of binding for the job. The following are factors to consider:

How many pages will the finished product have. The number of pages along with the weight of paper will determine the size of the spine. For most brochures and catalogues under 40 pages then stitching the document will be the ideal solution. Stitching with 2 wires is neat, durable and allows the document to lay flat on the table or desk.

Saddle-stitched programme for pantomime

If the catalogue is more substantial and you require a spine then there are a two options: Perfect binding or PUR binding. The main difference is the adhesive used in the binding process.  Perfect binding uses ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) adhesives whereas PUR uses polyurethane reactive (PUR) adhesives. PUR adhesive offers better adhesion over EVA and also the ability for the bound book to lay flat without compromising the binding strength. PUR binding is more expensive and also requires longer to 'cure' therefore taking longer to finish.

PUR Binding for Wine List

Wiro binding is ideal when you require a the brochure to lay completely flat on the desk - you lose a spine but wiro is fantastic for presentations where you need everyone to 'stay on the page'.

Wiro binding for Suzuki Document

Catalogue printing builds customer loyalty

Catalogue printing can appear to be something of a luxury when it's so easy to pop your products up onto your website and wait for the orders to come in.

OK, you've got to make sure you can be found by the search engines or you may have emailed prospective clients a link to your website. This is standard practice but it also means that everyone else is doing the same as you and that when your prospect searches for a product you may not be in the Google top 5 and never get a look in.

A printed catalogue is an invaluable tool to send to customers and prospects. Only last week, Next reported 11.8% increase in their Directory business as opposed to 3.5% fall in profits in the rest of their business. Once someone has your catalogue they are no longer looking at the competition. This helps ensure you not only keep their bsuiness but also helps maintain your margins.

So next time you think "can I afford to produce a printed catalogue"  or invest in brochure printing , the question you maybe should be asking is, "Can I afford not to?"

The perfect print finish for brochures and catalogues

Clients often ask us what the best lamination finish is for their brochures and catalogues. There are two main factors to consider here: the look and feel and then secondly the practicality. Lets look at the pros and cons for each laminate

• Gloss lamination : Pros: Hi gloss finish, doesn't show any scratches, increases colour print intensity, durable and protective print finish. Cons: can give the document  the 'Chinese takeaway menu' factor.


• Matt lamination: Pros: soapy, silky feel, non reflective. Cons: flattens the colours (ie Black print looks more grey in tone), scratches and marks easily. If you were to run your nail onto a matt laminated cover a dark line would be visible. Although durable, the covers could look tatty due to marking.

Personally I prefer the look and feel of matt laminate over gloss lamination. So, if the final printed item is more design led then this would be my preference. Conversely if the you are looking to produce a printed product catalogue, then gloss is probably the best option.