Cover to Cover

The future of the books and booklets sector is pretty empty. Well, actually, zero would be more accurate."Zero Waste" driven by digital technology personalized and variable printing is the next big opportunity for users of binding and finishing, explained James Tressler, mid-Atlantic regional sales manager and director of branch operations for the New Bedford, Massachusetts-headquartered C.P. Bourg.

"In an increasingly digital environment with super-fast turnaround times and tight profit margins, every set printed can be unique, and finishing products and technologies soon will have to produce salable product without wasting a single sheet, kilowatt, stitch or ounce of glue and deliver the best return on investment," he said. "C.P. Bourg, for nearly 50 years, has designed and built products with innovation, quality and efficiency in mind, and our newest products—the BME, BSF and BB3002, to name a few—have been designed to operate with zero waste and deliver high return on investment."

Andy Fetherman, division manager for OnDemand Solutions for Hauppauge, New York-based Muller Martini, agreed digital technology is the big thing now and will continue to be in the years to come. Currently, he said, more than 3 percent of books are produced digitally. He estimated that number to grow to 10 percent to 15 percent within three to five years.

"This is the biggest, single trend in the market," Fetherman enthused. "It's the first trend where we are seeing publishers get excited."

The vision for the future is slightly different for Tom Patrevito, vice president of Carol Stream, Illinois-based Booklet Binding.

"We anticipate, and have already begun to see, marketers mailing fewer pieces to more targeted lists, employing mailers that are more complete and compelling than in the past," Patrevito noted. "In addition, we see the benefit to our clients of creating strong strategic partnerships with firms whose various core competencies both complement ours and one another's and serve to maximize our clients' response rates and return on investment."