Hand assembly
Delicate, irregular or custom pieces assembled by hand to an approved sample, then counted and inspected.
Process 04 of 06
Handwork
The jobs a machine can't do well: inserting, tipping on, assembling delicate or irregular pieces, then counting and inspecting every one.
- In
- Folders, inserts, cards
- Out
- Hand-assembled kits
Opens the quote form with Handwork pre-checked.
- Folders, inserts, cards: In
- Insert
- Tip on
- Assemble
- Hand-assembled kits: Out
1What it is
Trained hands insert pieces into pockets and sleeves, tip cards and samples on with a glue spot, and assemble sets and custom packaging. Every piece is counted and checked.
2When to use it
- Pieces too delicate, thick or irregular for a machine
- Tip-ons: cards, samples, PIs and blister packs
- Folders, sleeves and sets with mixed components
- Short runs where machine setup costs more than the handwork
3Specs
Services
- Hand assembly
- Tip-ons & hand inserting
- Multi-volume sets
- Book restoration
Learn it · 0:25 explainer
How handwork actually runs.
Every step, in order. Tap a step to hold it, or let it play through.
● Step 1/4 · 0:25 loop
01 · Handwork
Hand insert
Cards, sheets and samples slide into pockets, sleeves and envelopes in order, so nothing creases or scuffs.
What moves the price
- 01Touches per piece: every insert, tip or fold by hand adds time
- 02Quantity: hand work scales piece by piece, so it doesn't get cheaper with volume the way machine runs do
- 03Whether there's an approved sample to build to
- 04Inspection and count requirements
General bindery factors. Your estimator prices the actual job after review.
We work from an approved sample and a build sheet, and check pieces against the sample as they're counted into packs.
No. It's often right for short runs, but also for large runs when pieces are too delicate or irregular to feed on a machine.
A hand-built sample or clear photos, every component and its quantity per finished piece, and your need-by date.
4 handwork services
What handwork covers.
Each quote link opens the form with this process and that service already ticked. Combining several? Tick them all on the form.
Tip-ons & hand inserting
Reply cards, samples and inserts tipped onto pages, or slid into pockets, sleeves and envelopes in order.
Multi-volume sets
Volumes gathered, checked in order and set into slipcases or boxes as collector's editions.
Book restoration
Repair and restoration for damaged or aged books, including binding, cover and page repair.
A slipcased set
Set into the slipcase.
Volumes gathered and checked in order, then set into a slipcase as a collector's edition.
Visit or deliver to 400 Gotham ParkwayWork
Jobs like this
Sales kit, drop-shipped
Folder, brochure and sample assembled into boxed kits and drop-shipped to many locations.
To quote one like it, send
- Kits
- Pieces per kit
- Ship-to addresses
- Turnaround
Multi-volume box set
A collector's set assembled by hand into a slipcase and shrink-wrapped for retail.
To quote one like it, send
- Sets
- Volumes
- Packaging
- Turnaround
Quote it
What we need to quote handwork.
One form for every job. It opens with Handwork ticked. Missing a few answers, or the files? Send what you have: “files coming” is fine.
Start the quote Or talk it through: +1 201-438-3100- Quantity of finished pieces, or a range
- What goes where: a sample, photos or a written build sheet
- Finished size, W × H
- Stock of each part, or ask us to advise
- Tip-on positions, glue type and closures, if any
- Need-by date, and when components arrive
- Ship-to ZIP, or pickup in Carlstadt