Choosing the right ring binder for you

Ring Binder Essentials

Choosing the right binder for your needs is important and there are a number of different factors to consider when selecting a binder. You may be looking for something that can store documents in the office long-term. You may be heading to an event or tradeshow and would like to leave as a takeaway, or your long-term impact on the environment may form part of your thinking. In this article, we’ll look at:

• The different types of binders available and what they’re made from including:
• Style and size
• How each type of binder is made
• Capacity v spine size
• Binder mechanisms
• Binder capacity

By the end of the article, we hope you’ll be able to make an informed decision when it comes to selecting the type of binder that is right for you and your business needs. If you’ve still got any questions after reading, our team of experts is more than happy to help.

Different Types of Materials

Here at Duraweld, we often describe our ring binders by the material they are manufactured from. We do this because it’s the key indicator on its suitability for its end use.

We categorise using the four key materials our binders can be made from:

• Vinyl
• Paper over board
• Polypropylene
• Natural board

Each material offers its own set of features and benefits. Depending on what the binders are being used for is a key consideration when selecting the material you’d like to use.

Style and Shape

Because we’re a specialist manufacturer of stationery products, we have the benefit of being able to provide a greater range of sizes than third party resellers.

We can offer binders in A3, A4 and A5, in a portrait or landscape orientation, as well as non-standard sizes like a thin menu or compact Filofax.

With our custom range there is always scope to offer less common configurations and styles. We can create binders with flaps for closure, tri-fold designs, have multiple mechanisms and much more. If it doesn’t exist, we’ll design and make it!

Capacity vs Spine Size

Many of our binders refer to the binders’ capacity which is always smaller than the spine size. Capacity is the measurement of the document stack height or how much a binder holds comfortably based on the type of mechanism.

How much a binder holds is dependent on the contents, especially if your documents are kept inside pockets. Please refer to our capacity guide for a more in-depth explanation.

Mechanisms

There are a few considerations when choosing a mechanism, all of which revolve around its usage.

Our binders typically use a D-ring shaped mechanism that is fitted into the back cover. This allows the front cover and spine to open freely without pushing or pulling on the enclosed documents that you get from an O-ring shaped mechanism.

• Two ring mechanisms: are generally favoured due to a slightly reduced cost compared to four ring mechanisms, and they do a great job.
• Four ring mechanisms: are great for travel or heavy usage in an office environment. The addition of two extra rings spreads the tear stress on the documents, it also minimises the movement inside the binder.
• Lever arch mechanisms: are ideal when paperwork is moved, accessed or reorganised frequently, and like four ring, makes it an ideal solution for in an office environment. The larger mechanism also allows paperwork to be flipped from side to side with ease and the easy to close lift handle makes opening and closing the binder simple and effortless.

Types of Binders

What they’re made from, how they’re made, and what you can do with them.

Vinyl Ring Binders

How are they made?

Vinyl ring binders are manufactured by welding vinyl over cardboard. They’re constructed from two pieces of vinyl, an outer and inner piece, with three pieces of cardboard front, back and spine.

The high-frequency weld process defines the binder shape and creases for folding, sealing the cardboard inside. Once welded, the binder is fitted with a choice of two ring, four ring, or lever arch mechanism depending on the overall size.

Why choose vinyl?

Durable and long-lasting, vinyl is the perfect choice for document filing in high volume paperwork environments such as legal or accounting firms.

Vinyl is available in a number of different colours, it is easily wiped clean, and its material properties offer good protection against water, dirt and grease. Each element of the binder can be recycled.

Quality Materials

We use high-quality 300-micron vinyl, thicker than the standard 180-micron vinyl commonly used on cheaper alternatives. The material is smooth to the touch with a light leather imprint.

Cardboard thickness is usually 2250 micron with 3000 microns used for higher capacity binders. This offers a sturdy construction perfect for repeated daily use.

Overlays and Encapsulation

Advantages of vinyl binders are the ability to add an overlay or additional pockets.

An overlay uses a clear piece of vinyl that covers the front, back or spine depending on your requirements. The most common overlay used is one that sits on the front cover and spine. The overlay has a stepped opening to the top, providing a full-size pocket to allow you to add your own printed sheets to customise the binder.

A cost-effective solution for print is to have the overlay sealed on all edges, with a printed sheet underneath, in a process called encapsulation.

Pockets for days

Extra pockets can be added to customise the binder with ease, usually to the inside covers. Popular choices include:

• Business card pockets
• Spine ticket
• Diagonal, horizontal, and vertical pockets

There are a wide choice of sizes and options for pockets, including:

• Specialist USB flash drive pockets
• Segmented or subdivided
• CD pockets

Print Options

Vinyl ring binders have the widest range of print options available. The vinyl material can be printed on directly, using screen, digital or lithography print processes.

Printed sheets can also be encapsulated or inserted under an overlay. Vinyl has the benefit of being able to be foil blocked and embossed.

Considerations

Vinyl isn’t suited for cold temperatures of around a zero degrees as it can crack if knocked sharply, a phenomenon known as ‘cold crack’.

During colder months our vinyl products are shipped in double-walled boxes with bubble wrap for extra insulation, boxes are labelled fragile.

Paper-over-board Ring Binders

How are they made?

Paper over board ring binders are produced using a single piece of cardboard, this is covered with an outer and inner sheet.

A typical binder will have a printed and laminated outer sheet, with a plain non-laminated inner sheet. The sheets are glued to the board, with the outer sheet wrapped around the edges of the cardboard to provide a secure sealed edge.

Once glued and dried, the board will be creased to shape to create the binder folds and fitted with a two ring, four ring, or lever arch mechanism to complete the product.

Choosing Paper Over Board

Paper over board products are massively versatile. The binders can be made to almost any size making them highly customisable without having to meet predetermined tool sizes.

They can be printed with any artwork, making them perfect for wrap-around designs, ideal for promotional content.

Paper over board products can use a variety of different laminates, alternatively, they can use specialist papers and materials for a premium finish.

Pockets

Like their vinyl counterpart, paper over board ring binders can have pockets. The pockets are self-adhesive and not as widely used. They tend to be limited to business cards and smaller inserts or leaflets.

We have an excellent range of self-adhesive pockets which allows for a wide choice.

Print Options

From a print viewpoint, paper over board ring binders are a highly creative cost-effective option.

Smaller runs tend to be digitally printed with larger bulk orders having the cover sheets litho printed. They are widely used for designs that are printed on the outer and inner cover.

The printed sheets can be finished using matt, gloss or anti-scuff laminate. The binders can also be foil blocked or embossed.

Considerations

This type of binder is not intended for high-intensity use, which can soon degrade its finish, especially on the corners.

As with any laminated product, they can be difficult to recycle even if biodegradable laminate is used, additionally, the glue used in manufacturing is not biodegradable.