This article provides a quick introduction to the three machines that are available
on the market.
Have you ever seen a document bound with Fastback?
Documents bound with this type of binding usually have a colored strip
along the spine that glues the cover and the pages in place. These
colored strips are available in a number of different lengths and sizes
to fit a huge variety of document types. Documents bound with this
style have lay flat properties, do not require any punching and allow
you to use your own custom printed covers. However, Fastback binding
requires a Powis Parker binding machine. This article is designed to
provide a quick introduction to the three machines that are available
on the market.
1. The Powis Parker 8x is the most affordable
binding machine that is available. The 8x retails for about $2000 and
uses a special type of binding strip called the LX strip. LX strips are
available in two widths (narrow and medium). Narrow LX are designed for
binding documents that are up to 1/2" thick (125 pages). Medium LX
strips are designed for binding documents that are up to 1" Thick (250
pages). LX are available in a number of colors including Black, Dark
Gray, White, Dark Blue, Bright Blue, Purple, Jade Green, Dark Green,
Red, Maroon, and Yellow. Composition strips have the look and feel of
leatherette and match Powis Compositions covers. Several specialty
strips are also available for the 8x including Perfectback Lay Flat and
Pressure Sensitive Strips as well as Photo Pro Strips for use with the
Studio Photobook System.
2. The Fast Back Model 11 is designed
for higher volume users than the 8x and retails for approximately
$3400. The Model 11 is ideal for users who need a more durable machine
than the Fastback 8x but don't want to spend the extra money on the
Fastback 15xs. It is only designed for use with Narrow strips for
documents up to 1/2" thick (125 pages). The most common used with the
Model eleven are Super Strips. Super Strips are available in sixteen
different colors including: Black, Dark Gray, Light Gray, White, Dark
Blue, Bright Blue, Teal, Lapis, Purple, Jade Green, Dark Green, Red,
Maroon, Light Brown, Dark Brown and Yellow.
3. The Fast back 15xs
is capable of binding documents using Narrow, Medium and Wide Strips.
Narrow are designed for binding documents up to 1/2" thick. Medium
strips are designed for documents up to 1" thick and Wide are designed
for documents up to 1-1/2" thick. The 15xs is capable of using Super
(available in 16 colors), Composition (available in 7 colors), CP,
Perfectback and Speed Strips. The 15xs is faster than the Model 11 or
the 8x and is incredibly versatile allowing the user to do short run
perfect binding, and bind documents that are legal sized (both the 8x
and Model 11 are only capable of binding documents up to 11" in
length). The Fastback 15xs retails for approximately $5200 and is the
workhorse of the Powis Parker line of binding machines.
In
addition to these three binding machines, Powis Parker also makes a
number of support products for the Fastback binding line including
their Powis Printer, Foilfast Printer, Hard Cover Guide, Stitcher and a
Scoring Device.
Jeff McRitchie is the director of Marketing for http://www.mybinding.com.
He has written more than two hundred articles on topics related to
binding machines, binding supplies, presentation covers, ring binders,
index tabs, laminators, laminating pouches, roll film, shredders and
paper handling equipment. If you have any questions about Powis Parker Fastback Binding Machines or Fastback Binding Strips and Supplies check out MyBinding.
