(left to right) Robert Racca, vice president, Stephen Remke, president, and Doug Wood, production manager, look to the Vijuk–G&K SVA folder as an avenue for more miniature folding market growth.

Originally founded in 1992, Bindery Depot came under new management in 1999 and then merged with Bindery Matters a year later. Today, Bindery Depot is recognized as one of the fastest growing, full-service trade binderies in the metro-Atlanta area.

Between 1999 and 2000 sales jumped 290 percent, which Stephen J. Remke, president, attributes to a number of factors. "Quality and service are always critical... and we make sure our customers get plenty of both. At the same time, we've established a solid reputation for meeting our customers' tightest production deadlines."

New market for a steadier stream of work
Another factor contributing to Bindery Depot's impressive sales growth is its recent entry into the miniature and pharmaceutical folding market. "In '99 we started looking at ways to counter the 'seasonability' of bookbinding to maintain a steadier stream of work throughout the year," explains Remke. "Miniature folding gave us a way to do exactly that, while complementing what we were already doing right. It was also clear that miniature and pharmaceutical folding was becoming one of the fastest growing segments of the bindery services market here in Atlanta." It was this train of thought that led to the installation of a Vijuk–G&K SVA/35 folder in June of 2000.

Beyond the fact that it's capable of handling smaller folds than competitive machines (down to 1/2" depending on the paper stock),

Miniature folding for telecommunications businesses
In citing one of the most complex folds to date, Racca describes an ongoing project for some of the Southeast's best known wireless communications providers. The 14-1/2" x 3-1/8" sheet carrying the terms and conditions for phone cards is folded down four times to 2" x 3" for insertion into a compact blister-type package. The die-cut piece, which is printed in five or six different monetary denominations, also features a unique "footer" or tab for displaying the UPC.

"The SVA folder gives us the high-speed performance and depend- ability necessary to meet the short lead times that go hand-in-hand with this kind of business," adds Remke. Using the phone card terms and conditions inserts to illustrate his point, Remke states that they recently turned a five million piece order in just six days on the Vijuk folder.

Developing the new capability requires quality support
Since this was the shop's first miniature folder, Bindery Depot was understandably concerned about the availability of technical support and spare parts. "Vijuk has really come through on their part of the deal," says Racca. "The Vijuk people have been invaluable in helping us develop this new capability... oftentimes providing detailed advice and assistance on difficult folding jobs on short notice."

Remke sees the installation of the Vijuk–G&K folder as just the first step in his firm's expansion into the rapidly growing market for miniature folding. "Besides the work we're doing for customers in the telecommunications business, we've earmarked several other key markets. There's always been a big call for miniature folding from the pharmaceutical companies, and we're aggressively pursuing this business. But there's also other areas such as food and consumer products where the Vijuk folder will broaden our business and open up some impressive growth potential."
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Written by Jim Plunkett, freelance writer of the graphic arts industry.