The Bindery Equipment In-plants Love

While inkjet and digital presses often steal the limelight, bindery equipment is just as crucial to the production workflow. According to the “In-plant Equipment Investment Trends (2025)” report from In-plant Impressions, folders, guillotine cutters, drills, and punches are the most popular pieces of bindery equipment and are installed in 93% of in-plant respondents’ shops. Folders and scoring/slitting equipment were the No. 1 bindery installations over the previous two years, according to our survey results, while collators will top the shopping lists of in-plants over the next two years.

We asked bindery equipment manufacturers which of their products are most popular with in-plants, then spoke with shops using that equipment to find out why they like it.

Horizon BQ-500 Perfect Binder

The Horizon BQ-500, distributed by Standard Finishing, is a high-productivity perfect binder. It can bind booklets up to 2.56" thick with or without milling, and can bind pads as well. The BQ-500 also supports both EVA and PUR hotmelt glue.

Mike Welch, director of Product Services at Andrew Wommack Ministries, says the perfect binder has been a huge contributor to the growth of his Woodland Park, Colorado, shop.

“In 2024, because we only had the new binder for only half the year, we did 268,000 books in-house that year,” Welch says. “In 2025, we increased that and we actually did 404,000 books.”

Primarily, Welch says the in-plant prints books and booklets written by founder Andrew Wommack, which has saved the ministry money; in freight alone, he estimates the in-plant saves about 32 cents per book. However, the BQ-500 has also given his operation the ability to take on work for several outside customers, helping generate revenue for the ministry.

As far as features go, Welch highlights the perfect binder’s four clamps and automatic three-sided trimmer, plus its use of fast-drying glue — all of which helps speed up production.

“It’s just proven to be an essential part of what we do,” he says.

Duplo DC-648 Slitter/Cutter/Creaser

Nathan Pietrykowski runs the Duplo DC-648 slitter/cutter/creaser at Arkansas State University Printing Services. | Credit: Arkansas State University

The DC-648 from Duplo is an automated mid-range solution that can slit, cut, crease, and perforate in a single pass at up to 40 sheets per minute.

Pradeep Mishra, director of Printing Services at Arkansas State University, says the installation of the DC-648 was preceded by a search for a slitter/cutter/creaser that was easy to operate.

“Learning curve wise, in a couple of weeks, you can put anyone on it,” Mishra says. He notes that this is particularly helpful when employees are on vacation or out sick.

Based in State University, Arkansas, the in-plant has now had the DC-648 since early 2025, and Mishra says it’s been excellent for the business card jobs the shop does.

“This one gives a very nice perf,” he praises.

Because the machine is fully automated, Mishra says it’s easy for the operator to press the start button then move on to tasks that require more skill. In fact, he stresses that the DC-648 can be left running after the normal shift ends; if there’s an issue with the job, the machine automatically stops.

Quadient DS-700 iQ Folder/Inserter

The DS-700 iQ from Quadient is a high-volume folder/inserter that can process 7,000 envelopes an hour. It can handle everything from direct mail campaigns to confidential information such as medical billing and financial statements.

Michael Cull runs Careington's Quadient DS-700 iQ. | Credit: Careington

The ability to handle confidential paperwork was a big reason the in-plant at Careington in Frisco, Texas, decided to invest in two of Quadient’s DS-700 iQs.

“Our biggest need was the closed-loop validation process,” says Martin Schneider, vice president of Customer Communications at Careington. “Because we deal in healthcare data, personal information, financial data, things of that sort, making sure that the right piece is in the right envelope is crucial.”

Schneider says the in-plant previously had a Quadient DS-200 and some folder/inserters from other companies. After comparing the machines, he says Quadient’s platform met his standards not only for the closed-loop validation, but for operation, customization, and fit within the shop’s workflows.

On the customization point, Schneider explains that the DS-700 iQ enables you to adjust setup down to a millimeter.

“If someone were operating it and they think, ‘Man, I really wish there was an adjustment for this,’ there is. Just try another menu,” he says.

He also adds that the folder/inserter is easy to use.

“It takes a while for them to be an expert, but they can be a productive member of the staff immediately,” Schneider says. “And that means sometimes when we need help, I can just go pull someone from the other building and say, ‘You’re going to learn a new skill today.’”

C.P. Bourg BB3202 Perfect Binder

Nick Abriola programs the Polar 92 N Plus guillotine cutter at Yale University. | Credit: Yale University

The C.P. Bourg BB3202 is an in-line perfect binder that is able to bind books up to 2.36" thick. The binder was among the first investments one in-plant made when its parent organization — a healthcare company — decided to start its own print operation to alleviate the cost of printing new patient booklets.

The in-plant began with just one BB3202 about three years ago to get the lay of the land, but in quick succession added three more, the last of which was installed in March 2024.

According to the shop’s manager, the perfect binders are easy to use and maintain. Plus, the adhesive dries quickly, which adds to the time savings and efficiency gains, the manager reports.

“Because of the perfect bound process, obviously we don’t have to spend any amount of time assembling the guides after they’re produced,” he explains. “Everything is in-line from start to finish. We’re able to just take them right off of the press and box them up and ship them.”

Not only that, but the BB3202s have helped the parent organization achieve its goal of cutting spending on print.

“We were able to save the company just shy of $800,000 in cost savings for this past year,” the manager notes.

Polar 92 N Plus Guillotine Cutter

The Polar 92 N Plus is a high-speed guillotine cutter that can cut paper, cardboard, and plastic up to 36.22" wide and up to 5.12" thick. It’s controlled via an 18.5" color display touch screen.

Yale University Printing & Publishing Services (YPPS) in New Haven, Connecticut, invested in the 92 N Plus when its previous cutter — a 48-year-old Polar 115 CE the shop got secondhand nearly 30 years ago — started to give out.

Part of the reason YPPS went with the 92 N Plus was longevity, says Associate Director Mario Maselli.

“We looked at it as: If we’re not here and we want to pass this on to the next group in 20-30 years, we’re hoping that this will last longer than the previous machine,” he says.

Some of the best features on the new cutter, Maselli notes, are its small cut capability (as little as an inch), a more easily controlled clamp, and the highly engaging touch screen display.

And while the 92 N Plus is a smaller model, Maselli says it’s still large enough to handle all the jobs the in-plant throws at it, such as booklets, pre-addressed postcards, student portfolios, and beyond.

“We’re going to keep trying to push through whatever odd stuff that we get,” he says.