Binding and finishing
Summary: Replica Printing Services describes coil, comb and VeloBind binding for reports and manuals, and edge binding, screw posts, folding and mounting for oversize plan sets.[1][2]
Why binding matters for this company
Binding is central to the company’s training and education specialty: the home page credits its customized digital printing, binding and quick turnaround for that work, and the Poway and San Diego pages mention professional binding for manuals, handbooks and books.[3][4][5] The reprographics page lists oversize finishing (mounting, edge binding, folding and screw posts), spec books, binder sets and bound proposals.[2]
Binding types the company describes
A 2019 post on the company blog describes three common mechanical bindings: coil, comb and VeloBind.[1]
| Method | How it works | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coil (spiral) | Plastic coil spun through punched holes | Opens flat; reports, notebooks, presentations | [1] |
| Comb | Plastic comb through 19 rectangular holes (letter edge) | Reusable spine; pages can be added or removed | [1] |
| VeloBind | Strips riveted through holes along the edge | Most secure of the three, per the company; pages removed only by cutting | [1] |
| Screw posts | Metal posts through drilled holes | Oversize plan sets | [2] |
| Edge binding | Strip along the edge of a plan set | Oversize finishing | [2] |
The post says coil-bound documents open flat; comb binding uses a reusable plastic spine through 19 rectangular holes so pages can be added or removed; and VeloBind is the most secure, with pages removable only by cutting the strips.[1]
Other bindings
Commercial bookbinding also includes saddle stitching, where folded sheets are stapled through the fold, and perfect binding, where pages are glued into a square spine as in paperbacks.[6] The services page lists booklets among the company’s most-printed items, and saddle-stitched booklets are the usual form for short booklets, but the official pages reviewed do not list saddle stitching or perfect binding by name, so this reference does not say which the company offers.[7]
Choosing a method
The choice usually comes down to page count, whether pages need to be added later, and whether the document must lie flat. The company’s post makes the same points: coil for documents that must open flat, comb when pages will change, VeloBind for security.[1] Training manuals that are updated often suit comb binding or binders with printed tabs; a document handed to a client may suit coil or VeloBind for a cleaner finish.[1][8]
Folding, mounting and trimming
Finishing also covers folding, cutting and mounting. The reprographics page lists folding of plan sets and mounting of oversize prints; the direct mail page lists machine and hand folding, inserting and sealing, collating, tabbing and wafer-sealing.[2][9] For mailed self-mailers, USPS standards on folds and tabs determine whether a piece can be processed by machine; see USPS mailing prices, 2026.[10]
A little history
The machines described in the company’s post are recent compared with bookbinding itself, which developed from codices sewn and bound between boards in late antiquity.[6] Mechanical bindings such as comb and coil spread in offices during the 20th century because they need no sewing or glue and can be done on a desktop punch.[6][1]
Common questions
What binding does Replica Printing offer?
Its blog describes coil, comb and VeloBind; its reprographics page lists edge binding and screw posts for plan sets.
Which binding lies flat?
Coil (spiral) binding, according to the company’s post.
Can pages be added to comb-bound books?
Yes. The comb spine can be reopened to add or remove pages.
Continue reading
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Binding books doesn’t have to be complicated (2019). Replica Printing Services (replicaprinting.com). Retrieved 9 November 2026.
- ^ a b c d e Reprographics. Replica Printing Services (replicaprinting.com). Retrieved 9 November 2026.
- ^ Replica Printing Services (home page). Replica Printing Services (replicaprinting.com). Retrieved 9 November 2026.
- ^ Replica Printing Services Poway. Replica Printing Services (replicaprinting.com). Retrieved 9 November 2026.
- ^ Replica Printing Services San Diego. Replica Printing Services (replicaprinting.com). Retrieved 9 November 2026.
- ^ a b c Bookbinding. Wikipedia. Retrieved 9 November 2026.
- ^ Services. Replica Printing Services (replicaprinting.com). Retrieved 9 November 2026.
- ^ Graphic design services. Replica Printing Services (replicaprinting.com). Retrieved 9 November 2026.
- ^ Direct mail San Diego. Replica Printing Services (replicaprinting.com). Retrieved 9 November 2026.
- ^ Mailing Standards (DMM 201: physical standards for commercial letters, flats and cards). U.S. Postal Service, Postal Explorer. Retrieved 9 November 2026.