Binding machine operators set up and work at the machines and equipment that assemble and finish a variety of printed materials such as books, magazines, brochures, calendars and business forms.
There are two general types of bindery operations. One deals with hard cover books, and the other provides a range of finishes for soft cover publications. For both of these, there are many different steps that a book, magazine or brochure has to go through after it is printed and before it is ready to be released to the public. You are involved in one or more of these steps when you work as a binding machine operator. In each case, you set up,
adjust and perform routine maintenance on your equipment.
One of the many machines you may operate is a gathering machine that automatically gathers sections of pages and forms book bodies. You may also run a folding machine that folds and cuts printed sheets into sections. You can work at a perfect binding machine that glues the gathered pages into paper covers, or a machine that stitches folded pages to form magazines, pamphlets or paperbound books.
After the printed material has been gathered, folded and stitched, you handle a trimming machine that cuts the printed material down to the proper size.
Although there may be a certain amount of lifting involved, you do not have to be strong to work in a bindery. You must be reasonably fit, however, and have enough stamina to work at your machine all day, usually on your feet.
The work may be fairly noisy, since there are many machines operating at one time. Despite the noise, you must concentrate on the job since your safety and that of your co-workers depends upon careful attention to your machine.
You must be able to understand and follow verbal and written instructions and to set up your machine according to exact job specifications. This work requires accuracy since improper folds or out-of-order book pages can result in costly mistakes for your employer.
The work is varied since you are working on different books or printed materials from one day to the next. In some binderies, you work on a rotational basis, operating different machines from one week to the next. This adds to the variety on the job and gives you training on more than one machine.
Most of the training in the bindery industry is done in-house, by the employer. If you learn more than one machine or operation, you are more valuable to bindery operation and you increase your chances of finding a job in the industry.
You are paid by the hour and generally start above minimum wage.
Some mechanical skill and an aptitude for machinery are assets if you ant to be a bookbinding machine operator. You should also be conscientious and quality-minded. You will be required to set up your machine to exact specifications according to the job requirements. A large part of your satisfaction should come from seeing a high-quality finished product.
To be a good bookbinder, you must also be self-motivated and able to make decisions on your own. You have to watch carefully for any problems that may require you to stop your machine.