Book Printing Lingo: What is ProClick Binding?

ProClick is a very practical and innovative book binding system developed by General Binding Corporation (GBC). Unlike most conventional binding methods, the ProClick system allows pages of a bound document to be removed, added, or rearranged with relative ease.

The ProClick system uses a sturdy plastic binding spine that has multiple rings attached to it. The rings are designed to snap open and closed. While in the open position, the rings are inserted through a series of holes that have been punched along the edge of the book's cover and pages. When the rings are snapped closed, the cover and pages are secured as an assembly, yet open freely.

The ProClick system is available in four colors (black, white, navy blue, and frost) and three ring sizes (5/16", 1/2"and 5/8").

The longest spine dimension that can be bound with ProClick is 11". The maximum number of sheets that can be bound will depend on the selected ring size as well as the thickness of the sheets. As an example, the 5/8" ring size will accommodate 110 sheets (220 pages) of uncoated 20# bond or 50# offset.

Though it produces a very professional-looking document, the ProClick system is generally limited to short-run book projects.

Benefits of ProClick Binding

1) ProClick is a good choice for documents that may need occasional editing. The ProClick system allows a book's pages to be added, removed, or rearranged without the need for special tools or equipment. The spine rings can be opened using a pen or your fingers. That said, if your bound documents require page changes on a more-frequent basis, a ringed binder may actually be the simpler option.

2) Books bound with the ProClick system can be opened a full 360 degrees. Similar to spiral coil or wire-o binding, ProClick binding allows a book to fold all the way back upon itself and yet still remain flat. This feature provides for easy reference while taking up minimal room on a desk or table, making it well-suited for reports, cookbooks, music books, instructional books and maintenance manuals.

3) The pages turn easily and stay put. The pages of a ProClick bound book rotate around the plastic rings with very little resistance. So, unlike a perfect bound or saddle-stitched book, the pages of a ProClick bound book have no spinal tension in them. This allows the pages to stay put without having to be continually held open to view the contents, which is an ideal feature for a journal, manual or workbook.

4) ProClick works well with index tabs. Because the ProClick binding method allows pages to turn freely and stay put without the need to manually hold them open, it is a good choice for bound projects that require tabbed page dividers. Dividers with printed tabs are the perfect complement to any reference document - such as a report, presentation, training manual, directory, etc. - because they allow the user to quickly locate a specific page or topic.

Formax Printing has been producing books, manuals and other bound documents for over 35 years. If you have any questions about ProClick binding or book printing in general, just give us a call at 866-367-6221. Or, if you already know your project's specs and would like a quote, click here to submit our easy quote form. As always, we look forward to assisting you!

Take care! Rick