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The article evaluates several innovative folding machines including the Stahlfolde TH/KH series scalable folders from Heidelberg, AFC-566DIF in-line signature folder from Standard Horizon and DC-645 Cutter/Slitter/Creaser machine from Duplo Corp. INSET: FOLDfactory.com.

The article focuses on the increased demand of multi-part direct mail campaigns and also offers solutions to automate various step of mail finishing. As stated, it's a business within a business and therefore the demand for new direct mail services keeps on increasing. According to Kirk Larsen, partner at Graphic Partners Ltd.most of the direct mail campaigns by it are done digitally on Kodak Digimasters. However, first mailing effort in a campaign might be printed conventionally.

The article discusses the importance of having the knowledge on standardized file submission process for folded materials during print production. It indicates that having a poor information about file setup for folded materials will lead to a cycle of redundant file-fixes, misunderstandings, and expensive mistakes. Moreover, it presents several printing problems on folded materials and followed by logical solutions.

The article discusses functions of various technologies for finishing printing. It states that well-known technologies for finishing printing include automated finishing, hybrid finishing and inline and near-line finishing solutions. Moreover, both offset production and digital production are aimed at finding niches for specialized, higher profit work like direct mail, photo books, and large format.

The article reports on the third-party tools that could improve the implementation of the Job Definition Format (JDF) in bindery in the U.S. It states that Metrix from LithoTechnics works as a layout calculator for commercial printing used in job planning by estimators and prepress operators in getting out the best in layouts. It mentions the Foldrite template-building software that will attach XMP tags with trimming intent into the in-design folding templates.

The article reports on the automation of folding and finishing equipments among binding industries. It notes that modification of printing procedures should be recognized before observing automation. President Andre Palko of Technifold USA states that the automation needs attempt to take novel ways of training employees and operating jobs. Hence, a survey from Binding Industries Association (BIA) states that less operators and higher skills levels are required to run high-tech machines.