Delivery of inserts

  • Book in your delivery in advance

Ensure that you book in the delivery of your inserts at the bindery, stating the following information:

  • Number of pallets to be booked in
  • Total quantity of supplied material
  • Publication title
  • Publication issue date
  • Product type (polythene, strapping etc)
  • Product name
  • Name of haulier
  • Any codes/regional information or relevant designation of the product
  • Supplier name and contact number
  • Ensure deliveries are labelled correctly

If the inserts are put into cartons, each carton must be labelled as above. Remember that if you do not correctly conform to the bindery’s regulations, you risk the production of your job being delayed and, potentially, your publication date being missed.

  • Take responsibility for correct details
    You are responsible for ensuring that the bindery has all of the appropriate information and that you have conformed to the delivery specifications and schedule.
  • Ensure safe delivery
    Please ensure that your inserts are delivered flat, dry and in good condition. Ensure that you conform to the regulations set by the bindery.
  • Ensure deliveries are signed for
    Get a signature to confirm safe delivery of your inserts between any two parties in the process.
  • Communicate any changes or delays
    If your inserts are in danger of being delivered late, ensure that you communicate with your bindery. Remember that if your insert is going into a weekly publication there will be very little leeway when it comes to late delivery.

 

Binding different insert types

Different formats of inserts are treated differently at the bindery and are therefore subject to different regulations.

  • Bound-in inserts
    Bound-in inserts must be supplied with a head trim and spine grind off allowance. This allowance varies by publication so ensure that you check this with the bindery before you finalise the printing of your insert. Inserts must be supplied in minimum turns, usually of 50, and as flat as possible.
  • Magna-stripped products
    Check the head trim allowance that must be left on these inserts. Bulky products can cause slow running in the bindery. Most binderies will be willing to carry out trials before accepting your job.
  • Scent strips
    Ensure the scent strips are secured all the way along the flap, not just at the head and foot.
  • Scent patches
    If patches are quite bulky, fewer inserts may be placed in a hopper at a time.
    If an extra person is needed to fill the hoppers, this may incur extra costs.
  • Glued tip-ons and sachets
    Tip-on inserts can appear on either the front page of a section (if magazine knocks to the head), or the back page of the section (if the magazine knocks to the foot). It is vitally important that you provide a positional guide for your tip-on insert. Most tip-ons are rectangular in shape but many binderies can accept those with a more unusual shape. If the tip-on is an unusual size the bindery can sometimes make a ‘block’ or cradle to fit inside the hopper. The sachet or tip-on will then sit inside the block to ensure that it is held securely.
  • Folded inserts
    Most binderies would have difficulty in inserting certain types of inserts. For example, if an insert is multi-paged then it is essential the folding is accurate. Roll folds can be inserted because they have a closed edge – but a concertina (or ‘Z fold’) would not be suitable, as it does not have a closed edge.

 

Insert positioning

All loose inserts in a magazine will be inserted at the same point. This position is completely random – a bindery cannot mechanically place loose inserts between specific pages.

  • Static nailing
    Some binderies offer you ‘static nailing’, which enables you to insert your product at the beginning of a particular section. For example, if your product is a fashion insert then you might be able to insert it at the beginning of the fashion section. This could help better targeting for your product.
  • Bulk packing
    Loose inserts may be bulk packed but they must be supplied in minimum turns of approximately 50. They must be supplied flat and dry.

 

 

 

Overs

If there are any inserts remaining after the insertion process is complete then the bindery should inform you of the remaining amount.

• Agree disposal of overs
Overs must not be destroyed without the consent of the advertiser. Most binderies stipulate that they will dispose of any overs within seven days of publication of a weekly publication and 14 days of publication of a monthly publication. Make sure you have agree how overs will be dealt with after publication.