THIS MONTH'S TOPIC: Cover Protection Choices

Printed and laminated dust jackets, such as the one on this hardcover book, offer ample protection against scuffing and help improve cover lifespan.

Book products that are bound for backpacks, work sites, kitchens and other stressful environments often require a little extra protection. At Eckhart and Company, we offer you several solutions that help books of every size, style and usage environment:

Dust Jackets
Dust jackets offer protection from more than just dust; they allow hardcover and softcover books to withstand rough treatment without compromising the book’s value or structure. We can create lightweight dust jackets from offset-printed paper and vinyl, which can be enhanced with foil stamping, embossing and die cutting for visual appeal.

UV Coating
Press-applied coatings such as aqueous and varnish offer satisfactory protection against scratches and scuffs by sealing the surface of a book cover. UV coating applied in an offline process offers more substantial protection than either aqueous or varnish. It is commonly specified for its high-gloss finish, which makes colors appear to jump from the page. UV is also ideal for spot-coating specific areas you’d like to highlight on your covers.

FIlm Laminating
Film laminate offers a very high level of protection for softcover books as well as hardcover books with a printed turned-edge wrap. Laminating films are available in several gauges and surface appearances, including matte, gloss, satin and glueable/stampable formulas.

The Eckhart Advantage
At Eckhart & Company, we can help you choose the cover protection solution that best meets your project’s needs. Combined with our high-speed perfect binding automatic Wire-O binding, plastic coil, spiral wire and plastic comb binding capabilities, we offer you end-to-end book production solutions. Consult with the experts at Eckhart & Company for helpful planning suggestions and high-quality production.