Specialty Binding includes several different types of bindings that can be applied to the spine. These types of binding are mostly hand applied and are labour intensive.

They include: Cerlux binding, Spiral Binding, Wiro Binding and Wire Spiral Binding.

All of these types of binding begin with the book being trimmed on all four sides. This includes trimming off the spine which leaves all the pages and covers of the book as a loose leaf block, which is ready for the Sickenger Punches. These specialty bindings allow the book to lie totally flat, which is advantageous in the kitchen as a cookbook or out in the field as a manual.

Cerlux Binding is the most popular in our plant, as it is used in 50% - 75% of the Cookbooks that we produce at Friesens. Cerlux is a plastic comb that starts out flat and is rolled to produce a tube. On the tube there is a length that holds all the teeth of the comb. This area can be Silk Screened or Foil Stamped with the title of the book. The spine of the book has been punched with square holes to receive the teeth of the Cerlux combs. Because the combs have been rolled into tube they need to be spread open in order for the operators to get the books onto the Cerlux. This is achieved by a machine called a "Cerlux Inserter". The machine has hooks that engage the teeth on the Cerlux combs and spreads them open. Once the Cerlux is on the spine the book is complete and ready for packing.

Spiral Binding is another Specialty application that uses a plastic spiral to bind the pages of a book together. The books have been prepared before hand at the Sickenger punches by punching oval or round holes along the spine. An oval hole is used for thicker books which allows the pages to move more freely on the coil binding, and the round hole is used for thinner books. The spiral is applied with a Spiral Inserter, which spins the coils into the holes on the spine of the books. The coil is crimped and cut with a specially designed tool to keep the spiral from coming out of the book. This type of binding does not allow for any kind of text on the spine.

Wiro Binding is similar to Cerlux in that it has square holes punched along the spine and the wire come in combs. The punched book is hooked over the combs and they and bent closed in the Wiro Inserting machine. The book is held in the machine with the wire comb in under and clamp and a hand operated switch is pressed to activate an air driven press that closes the wire around the spine. This type of binding does not allow for any kind of text on the spine.

Wire Spiral Binding is similar to Spiral Binding with a wire binding instead of a plastic binding being use on the spine. The spine is prepared with a round hole and the Wire Spiral in applied to the book by a Sickenger Wire Spiral Inserter. This machine takes the wire off a large spool and makes the coils as they are spun into the holes along the spine. The size of the coil is changed by setting parts on the Inserter which gives the coil a larger diameter. This type of binding does not allow for any kind of text on the spine.