Project description
Eco-friendly innovation for the bookbinding market
On-demand printing is in constant expansion as it does not require big investments and boasts a fast turnaround. However, adhesive bookbinding used in the post-press market has not advanced over the past decades. Hot melt glue is the main material used in bookbinding, which is harmful for the environment and affects the durability of the final product. A German company is proposing a new adhesive technology for high-quality bookbinding. This environmentally friendly technology will revolutionise the post-press market. The EU-funded Ribler Technology project will complete the feasibility study to upscale its technology for serial production and worldwide commercialisation.
Objective
Adhesive bookbinding is the process of connecting individual pages of a book into a single volume with glue. Technologies used world-wide in this part of the post-press market have not changed significantly since 70 years. 97% of books world-wide are bound with machinery using hot melt glue with negative effects on the environment, book binding companies and readers.
After more than 30 years of experience in book binding and bonding of fiber material, the German Ribler GmbH has taken the lead in R&D1 for environmental friendly and non-toxic adhesives and accordingly the development of high quality, adhesive bookbinding technology. Through our outstanding chemical expertise and by applying industrial biotechnology, we developed a patented process, in which paper fibres are isolated, and then activated with a biogenic component. Our unique “Ribler cold glue dispersion” connects the pages with an unreached flexibility and resistance, leading to real 180° lay flat books, for all sorts of paper materials. Ribler's technology is eco-labeled with zero energy and zero emission. We are proud and ambitious and aim to change the book binding world and prepare for scaling and global sales. SME Instrument Phase 1 will deliver final feasibility steps to successfully enter the market and scale up from small special mechanical engineering & prototyping to serial production and world-wide sales. Until 2023, we expect our company to grow fast: 85 new jobs and world-wide revenue of 5 m€ and 1,3 m€ profit and to become the technical market leader in the BoD Books-on-demand market for perfect binders.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinator
70567 STUTTGART
Germany
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.