Occupation Details
Print Binding and Finishing Workers
Bind books and other publications or finish printed products by hand or machine. May set up binding and finishing machines.
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Interests
Realistic
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Conventional
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Work Values
Achievement
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Support
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$30,590.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$38,890.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$46,960.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
1,350
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
1,250
+-10 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
136
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
-0.1%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
Some Training - Certificate or hands-on training
Experience Requirements
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Education Requirements
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Training Details
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, tellers, and dental laboratory technicians.
School Programs
School Programs information is not available for this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
State License and Certifications Requirements are not currently associated with this occupation.
Apprenticeship
Contact your regional representative to learn more about apprenticeships available in your area by visiting Apprenticeship Contacts.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Production and Processing
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Administrative
Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Achievement/Effort
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Independence
Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Persistence
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- Band nippers
- Bindery stackers
- Board shears
- Book binding rulers
- Book stitching equipment
- Bookbinding awls
- Bookbinding glue brushes
- Bookbinding jigs
- Bookbinding machine conveyors
- Bookbinding utility knives
- Buckle folders
- Case makers
- Coil binding machines
- Coil crimping pliers
- Corner rounders
- Cover feeders
- Die cutting equipment
- Digital duplicating machines
- Forklifts
- Glue rollers
- Guillotine paper cutters
- Hand dollies
- Hand trucks
- Hot foil stamping machines
- Hydraulic trimmers
- Knife folders
- Laminating machines
- Long nose pliers
- Padding presses
- Pallet jacks
Technology
- Email software
- Houchen Bindery Library Automated Retrieval System LARS
- Label printing software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Publisher
- Microsoft Word
- Trade Bindery Software Bindery Estimating System
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- maintain production or work records
- set page layout or composition
- demonstrate or explain assembly or use of equipment
- measure, weigh, or count products or materials
- proofread printed or written material
- assure quality control in printing processes
- adjust production equipment/machinery setup
- set up production equipment or machinery
- maintain or repair industrial or related equipment/machinery
- clean equipment or machinery
- install equipment or attachments on machinery or related structures
- apply adhesives, caulking, sealants, or coatings
- move or fit heavy objects
- clean rooms or work areas
- load, unload, or stack containers, materials, or products
- maintain consistent production quality
- perform safety inspections in manufacturing or industrial setting
- examine products or work to verify conformance to specifications
- identify color or balance
- understand technical operating, service or repair manuals
- make independent judgment in assembly procedures
- collate printed materials
- package goods for shipment or storage
- wrap products
- fabricate, assemble, or disassemble manufactured products by hand
- load or unload material or workpiece into machinery
- monitor production machinery/equipment operation to detect problems
- read work order, instructions, formulas, or processing charts
- operate printing equipment/machinery
- operate collating machine
- operate sewing machine
- use hand or power tools
- operate bindery equipment
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- Examine stitched, collated, bound, or unbound product samples for defects, such as imperfect bindings, ink spots, torn pages, loose pages, or loose or uncut threads.
- Read work orders to determine instructions and specifications for machine set-up.
- Install or adjust bindery machine devices, such as knives, guides, rollers, rounding forms, creasing rams, or clamps, to accommodate sheets, signatures, or books of specified sizes.
- Stitch or glue endpapers, bindings, backings, or signatures, using sewing machines, glue machines, or glue and brushes.
- Trim edges of books to size, using cutting machines, book trimming machines, or hand cutters.
- Insert book bodies in devices that form back edges of books into convex shapes and produce grooves that facilitate cover attachment.
- Monitor machine operations to detect malfunctions or to determine whether adjustments are needed.
- Maintain records, such as daily production records, using specified forms.
- Lubricate, clean, or make minor repairs to machine parts to keep machines in working condition.
- Set up or operate bindery machines, such as coil binders, thermal or tape binders, plastic comb binders, or specialty binders.
- Set up or operate machines that perform binding operations, such as pressing, folding, or trimming.
- Cut cover material to specified dimensions, fitting and gluing material to binder boards by hand or machine.
- Bind new books, using hand tools such as bone folders, knives, hammers, or brass binding tools.
- Cut binder boards to specified dimensions, using board shears, hand cutters, or cutting machines.
- Perform highly skilled hand finishing binding operations, such as grooving or lettering.
- Imprint or emboss lettering, designs, or numbers on book covers, using gold, silver, or colored foil, and stamping machines.
- Compress sewed or glued signatures, using hand presses or smashing machines.
- Form book bodies by folding and sewing printed sheets to form signatures and assembling signatures in numerical order.
- Meet with clients, printers, or designers to discuss job requirements or binding plans.
- Prepare finished books for shipping by wrapping or packing books and stacking boxes on pallets.
- Set up or operate glue machines by filling glue reservoirs, turning switches to activate heating elements, or adjusting glue flow or conveyor speed.
- Train workers to set up, operate, and use automatic bindery machines.
- Design original or special bindings for limited editions or other custom binding projects.
- Punch holes in and fasten paper sheets, signatures, or other material, using hand or machine punches and staplers.
- Repair, restore, or rebind old, rare, or damaged books, using hand tools.
- Apply color to edges of signatures using brushes, pads, or atomizers.
Learning Resources
More information on this occupation may be found in the links provided below.
Bookbinders and bindery workers
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
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