What does a bindery operator do?
In the publishing industry, a bindery operator is primarily in charge of operating the machine that binds the pages of magazines, books, and other products. They are also responsible for following guidelines and schedules, maintaining records, conducting regular maintenance checks on machines, and performing basic repairs and adjustments when necessary. Moreover, a bindery operator must maintain a clear communication line with staff while adhering to the company's safety standards and regulations for a smooth and efficient workflow.
Bindery operator responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real bindery operator resumes:
- Manage mail heads, stackers and print pockets and train crew members on same.
- Set up and run InkJet labeler to label newspapers and magazines.
- Perform repairs and preventative maintenance on bindery machines, including cleaning, adjusting and oiling.
- Require math and measuring skills.
- Set up and run UV coating machine.
- Set up and operate MBO and Stahl folders.
- Operate bobst folder gluer for cartons, envelopes, ect.
- Operate the routing machine (CNC) for intricate cutting jobs.
- Set up and run machines to finish jobs in a timely manner.
- Set up and operate MBO and Stahl folders using multiple folder attachments.
- Perform hand and machine operations to collate, fold and bind print materials.
- Operate CNC cutting machine, ban see, table see, deburing tools.
- Prepare finish books for shipping by wrapping or packing books and stacking boxes on pallets.
- Thread spirals in perforate holes of items to be bound, using spindles or rollers.
- Ship mail, boxes, and envelopes using the the FedEx and USPS shipping system.
Bindery operator skills and personality traits
We calculated that 20% of Bindery Operators are proficient in Machine Operation, Collating, and Hand Tools. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Mechanical skills, and Visual ability.
We break down the percentage of Bindery Operators that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Machine Operation, 20%
Work as a team to meet customer deadlines and train new operators on safety and Machine operations.
- Collating, 18%
work done in collating, shrink-wrapping, & boxing.
- Hand Tools, 15%
Repair, restore, or rebind old, rare, or damaged books, using hand tools.
- Control Surfaces, 7%
Set up, adjusted and operated binding machines containing several cutting heads, control surfaces or other attachments.
- Bindery Equipment, 6%
Experience as an operator of bindery equipment to process or finish printed products efficiently and accurately.
- Troubleshoot, 4%
Operate, troubleshoot and maintain the Perfect Binders, Stitchers and related computer and auxiliary equipment.
"machine operation," "collating," and "hand tools" are among the most common skills that bindery operators use at work. You can find even more bindery operator responsibilities below, including:
Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for a bindery operator to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "material moving machine operators signal and direct workers to load and unload material." Additionally, a bindery operator resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "helped achieve company goals by maintaining top quality products at top speeds maintained necessary level of communications between shifts. "
Mechanical skills. Another essential skill to perform bindery operator duties is mechanical skills. Bindery operators responsibilities require that "material moving machine operators make minor adjustments to their machines and perform basic maintenance on them." Bindery operators also use mechanical skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "operate bindery machines such as polar cutters, mbo folders, stitchers, perfect bound, mechanical bindery machines. "
Visual ability. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of bindery operators is visual ability. This skill is critical to many everyday bindery operator duties, as "material moving machine operators must be able to see clearly where they are driving or what they are moving." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "inspect visually document results and production run. "
The three companies that hire the most bindery operators are:
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Compare different bindery operators
Bindery operator vs. Folder
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between bindery operators and folder. For instance, bindery operator responsibilities require skills such as "machine operation," "collating," "hand tools," and "control surfaces." Whereas a folder is skilled in "safety standards," "inventory control," "folder-gluer," and "fold laundry." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Folders tend to reach similar levels of education than bindery operators. In fact, folders are 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Bindery operator vs. Book binder
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that bindery operator responsibilities requires skills like "control surfaces," "bindery equipment," "troubleshoot," and "quality standards." But a book binder might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "basic mathematics," "books-work," "ran," and "assembly line."
In general, book binders achieve similar levels of education than bindery operators. They're 2.3% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Bindery operator vs. Saddle stitch operator
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, bindery operators are more likely to have skills like "collating," "hand tools," "control surfaces," and "bindery equipment." But a saddle stitch operator is more likely to have skills like "inkjet," "safety procedures," "general maintenance," and "ran."
Saddle stitch operators typically earn similar educational levels compared to bindery operators. Specifically, they're 0.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Bindery operator vs. Binder
Types of bindery operator
Updated January 8, 2025
