The Cost-Effective Alternative to Hardcover: Long-Lasting Softcover Books
Looking for strong and durable books without the high price of hardcover?
Consider softcover books made with PUR binding adhesive and a laminated cover. Hardcover books, also called hardback or hardbound books, are known for their strength, durability, and long life. The pages are usually sewn together at the spine with strong thread to keep them secure. The cover is made from thick paper board, and it is often wrapped in a gloss-coated paper to help protect the book from stains and moisture.
Even though hardcover books are very durable, they are also the most expensive style of book to produce. That higher cost is one of the main reasons softcover books, especially perfect bound books, have become so popular. Softcover books, also called softbound, softback, or paperback books, may not be as sturdy as hardcover books, but they can be produced at a much lower cost.
How to Achieve the Best of Both Worlds
Fortunately, there is a way to create books that are long-lasting and reasonably priced. The secret is to create a perfect bound softcover book with the desirable features of a hard cover book. Namely, pages that remain intact through years of use and a cover that offers superior resistance to wear.
Because traditional perfect bound books fall short in these two areas, you'll need to find a book printer that can offer you the following two options-
1) Polyurethane (PUR) Binding Adhesive - PUR is the most durable, longest lasting book binding glue available. PUR has superior flexibility, which prevents the spine from cracking when the book is opened wide or pressed down flat. It also has superior strength, making it is nearly impossible to pull a page out of a book bound with PUR adhesive. Needless to say, it is far superior to Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) or any other adhesives used in traditional perfect binding. For more details, see PUR Perfect Binding: Five Book Projects that Benefit from PUR Adhesive.
2) A Laminated Cardstock Cover - varnish, aqueous and UV coatings all have their place in the realm of printing, but nothing will protect your book like a tough laminate film bonded to the cover. Plastic lamination provides the ultimate protection against tears, abrasions, creases and wrinkles. It also blocks stains from dirt, moisture, grease, oil and other contaminants. For additional strength and rigidity, the printed cover substrate can be made from thick cardstock prior to lamination.
If you have an upcoming softcover book project that requires the most durable, longest lasting construction available, give Formax Printing Solutions a call at 866-367-6221. Unlike other book printers, Formax does not charge a premium for PUR adhesive, even though it is a far superior binding process. We also have amazing prices on Lamination.
Let us know if you have any questions about PUR adhesive, Lamination, or book printing in general. As always, we look forward to assisting you!
Take care, Rick
