Jargon Buster

Our Jargon Buster lists all the specialist, technical terms used in the world of document binding.
More information can also be found on our Binding Guide page.
In addition, throughout the site wherever you see words and terms highlighted and italicised you just need to point your cursor at them to see the definition.

Adjustable edge guide: Enables proper centering of paper for punching when changing from one paper size to another.

Adjustable margin depth: Margin depth is the distance between the outside edge of the paper and the punched hole. Adjusting the margin depth ensures the pages of larger bound documents will not be damaged.

Binding capacity for machines: Maximum number of sheets that can be bound on a machine using a binding element.

Binding capacity for supplies: Maximum number of sheets that can be bound in the binding element.

Binding element selector: This mechanism helps you select the right size binding element for a specific document thickness or sheet capacity.

Binding cycle time: The time required to bind a document with a thermal binding machine. Cycles vary from 30 to 60 seconds depending on the number of sheets to be bound.

Punching capacity: The maximum number of sheets that can be punched at one time.

Punching pitch: For plastic comb binding, it is the distance between the center of two punched holes expressed in mm (pitch 14.28 m). For all other types of binding, punching pitch is generally expressed as the number of holes per inch (i.e. Coil pitch 4:1") but can also be expressed as the distance between the centre of two punched holes (i.e. Coil pitch 6.35 mm)

Releasable punching dies: Removing a punching die enables the punching mechanism to adapt various punching standards and paper sizes (AS, Japanese A4, US letter size). It also facilitates the centering and punching of non standard sizes of paper.

Spine width for thermal covers: The width of the back of the cover determines how many sheets can be bound in one document.

Vertical or horizontal punching: The way the sheets are positioned in the machine, either vertically or horizontally. Vertical punching facilitates the alignment of the sheets before punching.