HardingPoorman Group continues to tackle ways to save clients money as they print this year. “Finishing” or completing printing jobs mechanically rather than by hand is another way to save. Here’s why:
“Finishing” your printing project includes all work processes your piece goes through once the printing itself is completed: trimming, die cutting, scoring, folding, gluing, and binding are all examples of this.
When you are printing a project that includes any of these processes, make sure your printer is finishing your project mechanically. What does this mean to your bottom line? If your printer does not have mechanical finishing equipment your printing gets very expensive, very quickly. Consider that although a pocket folder can easily be folded and glued by hand, doing this manually for 5,000 folders will add quite a bit to the final tap. Wire-o binding is the same way.
Another reason your printer may resort to hand finishing is the finished size of your project. Folding equipment has size limitations. Your project may be too small – or too large – to use the machines on hand. Sometimes if your project size is increased or decreased by as little as ½”, it would fit the limitations of the house machinery – and save you a lot of labor. Ask about this when you bid your project.
Ask about outsourcing, too. Some printers do everything in house, and others print your project, but ship it across town to have it die-cut and folded, then bring it back to their facility to package it. Naturally, these costs will be added to your total bill. Ask about this ahead of time to be sure.
So know what to ask when it comes to your printing. The more transparent and streamlined you can make the process, the better for your bottom line!