Every sector of business strives for increased energy efficiency. By minimizing production and transportation waste, miniature folding permits economical, energy-efficient print workflows.
As with any mechanical process, miniature folding applications present a few challenges that must be addressed prior to production. Here are some time-tested solutions to two of the most common small-format challenges.
Laying flat
Miniature folding often entails fitting the same amount of information as a normal-size piece into a much smaller insert. But more folds creates more panels, which often results in a finished piece that simply won’t stay closed. Experienced miniature folding providers can employ a number of solutions to this problem:
Glue - A tiny glue dot placed inside the edge of an outer panel is often enough to hold the piece shut. For best adhesion, both glued surfaces should be free of aqueous coatings. But always check with your bindery regarding coating decisions or options.
Moisture - By adding moisture at the final fold, your bindery can soften and relax the paper fibers to create a "memory" of the folded, lay-flat position once the paper dries. Keep in mind that this technique won't have an affect on pieces with high-gloss sheet surfaces or coatings.
RTA - A right-turn angle (RTA) usually ends with a knife fold and the application of glue to create a finished product without any open edges.
If your pieces must lay flat, involve your folding partner as early as possible to identify the most effective and economical solution available for your application.
Shingling
Shingling refers to the edges of inside sheets extending beyond those of the outside sheets in a folded or saddle-stitched product. Paper thickness, folding style and sequence, the number of folds and the fold-to-face dimension all contribute to the presence and prominence of shingling on small-format pieces.
If shingling must be minimized on your application, parallel and accordion folding styles should be specified. Alternative folds such as inside-out and inverted pyramids are also possible, but may compromise production speed. Ask your miniature folding vendor for the solution that best balances cost, turnaround time and appearance for your project.
The Rickard Advantage
If you have a challenging miniature folding application, Rickard Bindery has your solution! Our range of equipment and expertise makes us your single resource for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food/beverage, general retail and many other miniature folding applications. Super-fast turnarounds… complicated layouts… high quality demands… cross-country delivery… let Rickard handle it!
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