Filing tab for Fastback, glossary

Professional binding of small print runs with Fastback binding

Devices for binding brochures, theses, doctoral dissertations, or presentation handouts using the Fastback binding method have significantly reduced the working time required for such binding processes. The term thermal binding is also used for this type of binding because the binding strips are heated.

All that is required is to insert a suitable binding strip into the Fastback binding machine. The sheets to be bound are placed onto the binding strip inside the device. At the push of a button, the binding machine heats and presses the sheets and the binding strip together to form a durable book or a representative brochure.

The thermoelastic adhesives integrated into the binding strips ensure long-lasting durability of the bound documents with permanently flexible spines. With suitable materials, hardcover covers can also be bound using the Fastback binding system.

Binding strips for Fastback binding

Fastback binding strips are available in different widths for binding between 3 and 350 sheets in DIN A4 format. Only three different strip widths are required for this range. The binding strips come in many different colors. On the outside, the strips feature an elegant linen texture. On the inside, a thermoplastic adhesive is used, which provides the cohesion of the sheets during the Fastback binding process.

The permanent elasticity of the adhesive ensures good opening behavior of the bound document and long durability. Fastback binding can be carried out more quickly than wire binding or comb binding. For larger quantities, Fastback binding therefore also contributes to cost savings. In addition, filing tabs cannot be used in printed products with wire or comb binding.

Creating order for Fastback-bound brochures with filing tabs

To file different Fastback-bound brochures in a binder or to store identical documents there, brochures bound with the Fastback system can be equipped with a filing tab. For this purpose, the spine is slit in two places, allowing the arms of the filing tab to be inserted through the openings. The arms are stabilized by a wide plastic strip attached to the tab, which is placed inside the bound document. Print shops can supply Fastback-bound printed products with the required die-cut slits upon request. There are also cover sheets with the corresponding pre-cut slits that can be used for Fastback binding in-house. In this system, the stabilizing plastic strip is positioned between the cover and the first or last sheet. With the punched holes in the tab arms, the bound documents can be filed in binders. This filing method for printed brochures bound with Fastback has proven effective in many offices and institutions. It avoids the need to punch holes directly into the brochures themselves. The slits in the spine are very discreet.

Materials for filing tabs in Fastback binding

Filing tabs for Fastback binding can be produced from different materials. Transparent or colored PVC is commonly used. Filing tabs made from BO-PET material or paper-based materials are also available on the market. Bleher supplies crystal-clear BO-PET film in thicknesses of 175 µm and 250 µm for the production of filing tabs. In addition to materials for filing tabs, suitable binding covers for Fastback binding are also available in the Bleher range in DIN A4 and DIN A3 sizes. The covers, like the filing tabs, are manufactured from BO-PET material.

Advantages of BO-PET material in the field of Fastback binding

BO-PET films are polyester films that are stretched in both longitudinal and transverse directions after the production process, meaning biaxially. This is referred to as biaxial orientation, which explains the “BO” component in BO-PET. This stretching process, technically known as orientation or drawing, improves the mechanical, physical, and chemical properties of the films. In the field of Fastback binding, the heat resistance of the film, its dimensional stability, and its resistance to yellowing are important prerequisites for use as a binding cover. When used as a filing tab as well as a binding cover, the high stability of the film is an advantage compared to other plastic materials. This allows thinner films to be chosen, which provides a long-term cost benefit.