The final assembly is done in a single operation on a long assembly line.

Note that this line was not in operation when I visited the printer, so there are no books on the equipment.

This is the start of the final assembly line. The smythe-sewn assemblies go in here.

This is a compacting unit that presses the book assembly together to make it nice and tight.

This device places glue on the spine to join the sewn signatures together and prevent gaps between the sections of the book.

This device trims the book to its final size by cropping off paper on three sides.

This machine applies a reinforcement strip to the back of the book.

This machine applies the headbands, the cloth strips that are at the top and bottom of the spine of a book.

This machine mates the main text of the book to the hard cover.

This machine forms the hard cover hinges and gives the book its final shape.

Finished books roll off the assembly line on this conveyor.

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