What Should I Look for in a Thermal Binding Machine?

One of the easiest bookbinding methods that’s available today is thermal binding. It allows you to create extremely professional-looking reports, books, proposals, and photo albums without needing a binding punch. With a thermal binding machine, you can create novel style books with both soft and hard covers quickly with minimal effort. But, choosing the right machine for your needs can be tricky. Here’s what you need to think about when selecting a thermal binder.

A Good Brand Name.

There are many binding machine manufacturers, so choosing a “best one” can be tricky. Luckily, being at MyBinding has given us enough experience to be able to parse out some of the best thermal binding machine brands. Our favorites include:

• Coverbind: Offering machines at a wide range of price points, Coverbind is a leading brand in the thermal binding space. They have options that are suitable for at-home binding on a budget as well as large machines that can bind up to 50 documents at once for businesses and offices. Coverbind offers undeniable quality and continues to develop innovative binding machines.
  • Nothing is better than being able to tackle two different jobs with the help of one machine. We recommend the Coverbind Duo as the ultimate “two birds/one stone” option. Doubling as a pouch laminator this thermal binder is a great two-in-one solution.
• Fellowes: The Helios series by Fellowes has been a longtime favorite in thermal binding. They offer high-quality binding solutions with a sleek and compact design. Fellowes offers innovative auto-detection technology and other features we recommend below making thermal binding even easier than it already is.
  • For your largest projects the Helios 60 is a great way to get the job done. With a capacity of 600 pages, you can bind virtually any document or multiple documents in one cycle. Get the job done efficiently with the help of the Helios 60.

A Timer.

Thermal binding is one of the fastest ways to produce a high-quality document that will impress everyone who sees it. In fact, a binding cycle can take as little as 30 seconds and some machines allow you to bind more than one book at once so you can produce multiple bound documents every minute. Plus, the drop-and-go technology allows you to multitask while binding. You should look for a binder with a timer so you know when your documents are ready. Make sure it has both a visual and audio indicator, so you don’t waste time trying to figure out if it is done working its magic. It should also have an auto-shutoff feature. This ensures once the binding cycle is complete you don’t waste energy or risk over heating your machine and project.

Binding Length and Document Thickness.

Just about all thermal binding machines are capable of finishing letter-sized documents (8.5″ x 11″). However, if you plan on using larger paper and covers, including legal-sized, you’ll need a machine with a longer binding length. You’ll also need to think about how thick your documents are and choose a device that can handle them. For example, if you anticipate creating books that are 2 inches thick, a machine that can only bind 1-inch books just isn’t going to cut it, so shop accordingly. Plus, extra binding width allows for multiple document binding. If you choose an option with a 2” capacity, you could bind two 1” documents at the same time.

A Cooling Rack.

After your books have been bound, they’re going to need to cool off a bit so the adhesive in the spine can set. You should minimize handling freshly bound documents while they are still hot. Choose a device with a cooling rack and extra points if it can hold several documents. Also, the best cooling racks are metal. They last longer than their plastic counterparts.

Settings for both hard and soft covers.

The device you choose should be able to bind both softcover and hardback documents. Many thermal devices lack an adjustable temperature setting, so make sure the one you select has a setting for both types of covers. Otherwise, you will be left having to do some experimenting and guesswork to get a proper bind.

A Good Warranty.

Finally, make sure your new binder comes with a decent warranty so you can easily get the machine repaired or replaced if necessary. It should go without saying, but a good warranty can make hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars of difference.

Now you should be ready to choose your thermal binding machine. Take a look at the different options available and put your knowledge to the test. If you have any specific questions give us a call at