October 2007-GET THE BEST RESULTS FOR YOUR OTABIND PROJECTS

When a soft cover book project calls for both the polished appearance of perfect binding and the durability and layflat capabilities of mechanical binding, Otabind is the answer. The patented Otabind process is an economical option for books that will see frequent use and need to stay open without being held. This applies to books that are typically used hands-free such as cookbooks, manuals, music books and textbooks.  

What Makes Otabind Different?
The patented Otabind adhesive binding process utilizes cold-setting glue, attaching the spine to a crepe cloth liner and holding the pages together. Then the cover is glued to the first and last pages of the book block instead of the spine itself. This allows the spine to float free above the cover when the book is open, giving it a layflat quality.

Otabind is suitable for multiple-up layouts, so several books can be bound and trimmed in one pass. In addition to the traditional applications, Otabind can be used for unusual designs like small-format projects or books with multimedia packaging.

Prescription for Success
To ensure success, keep a few simple considerations in mind when planning an Otabind book project.

• Keep It Clean – Remove all inks and coatings for optimal adhesion and to prevent glue seepage. The knockout margins for Otabind books must be at least 7/16” from the spine edge on the first and last pages of the book block, as well as the inside front and back covers.
• Keep It Cool – Cold set glue applications allow the ultimate in flexibility, allowing the book to lay flatter than other styles of adhesive binding. Muscle Bound Bindery was among the first binderies in North America to perform the patented Otabind process and we use the original, flexible cold-set glues.
• Keep It Parallel – Make sure the grain direction of signature and cover paper stocks are parallel to the spine. This helps to improves adhesion strength and avoids potential waviness in the paper stock.
• Keep Crossovers Aligned – Like any adhesive bound process, Otabind works well for books with crossover images. However projects with a lot of crossover images still must be carefully planned, particularly if they include bleeds or coatings that run into gutters. For best results, involve your friends at Muscle Bound early in the job planning process.

The Muscle Bound Advantage
Muscle Bound Bindery is one of the largest producers of Otabind books in the country. We offer a wide variety of trim size and book thickness options and can dedicate two binding machines to the process for high-volume projects. Our range of binding solutions also include high-quality perfect binding, case binding, library binding, folding, shrink wrapping, laminating and much more. We have a binding style for every application and budget. Call us to discuss your next book project.