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I thought of something that you may want to consider before changing
binding types. It will require you to find out how your users use your
manuals, if you haven't already done so.
At a previous job, we produced manual sets, too. We found that our
customers (mostly field technicians) preferred some type of spiral or
coil binding because the books would lay flat when opened. If they were
working on a large piece of equipment, the last thing they wanted was to
have to fight to get a manual to stay open while they were using it.
When we sent perfect-bound books, the first thing they did was to open
the books wide in several spots to break the binding. This led to pages
becoming loose and sometimes getting lost. We switched to spiral and
even GBC binding (not as pretty, but it could be done in-house) to give
them the functionality that they needed.
How do your users use the manuals? If they hold the manuals to read
them, then you may be okay with switching to thermal binding. If they
lay the manuals down so both hands are free, they may dislike the
change.
Donna
> -----Original Message-----
> Here's a question for those who produce small quantities of printed
> documentation (which I haven't in years).
>
> We currently produce our documentation in sets - coil bound. Each set
> consists of about 15 manuals. We have a local copy shop
> produce and bind
> them.
>
> We are considering thermal binding - and considering doing it
> inhouse. Has
> anyone else done this, and if so, what do you feel are the pros/cons?
>
> Suzette Leeming
> Stouffville, Ontario
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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