Mechanical binding is often praised for its versatility. Books are able to lay flat, and multiple stocks can be easily included. While plastic spiral, Wire-O and spiral wire binding are popular for most mechanical binding applications, plastic comb binding is another option that gives books a distinctive look. Although plastic comb binding does not open 360 degrees like other mechanical binding styles, it does offer two distinct advantages. First, plastic comb binding elements can include screen printing, allowing books to be easily identified when displayed on store shelves. Second, pages can be added or removed as desired, making plastic comb binding suitable for extended-use applications.