What is Glue-Only Binding

Glue-only binding refers to methods that rely only on adhesive (no sewing) to hold pages together at the spine. The pages are stacked, the spine edge is roughened, and glue is applied before attaching the cover. This method is fast and cost-effective, but less durable than sewn methods like Smyth sewing.

What types of glue are used?

Most glue-only books use either EVA (ethylene–vinyl acetate) or PUR (polyurethane reactive) glue. EVA is the traditional hot-melt glue, fast and affordable but less flexible and prone to cracking over time. PUR forms a chemical bond, is stronger and more flexible, and works well on coated paper, but cures slowly and costs more.

What is EVA binding?

EVA is the standard hot-melt adhesive used in many perfect-bound books, catalogs, and magazines. It sets in minutes and keeps production fast and low-cost, but may not hold up to heavy or long-term use.

What is PUR binding?

PUR uses a stronger reactive adhesive that forms a permanent bond. It takes longer to cure but creates a more flexible spine and holds pages securely, even on glossy or coated stocks. It’s commonly used for high-end books, photo books, and thick catalogs.

What is burst binding?

Burst binding (also called notch binding) was developed to improve glue grip before PUR existed. Signatures are notched so glue can seep inside the folds for added strength. It was usually done with EVA and is rarely used today, because PUR provides stronger adhesion without the notching step.

Why not use PUR for everything?

PUR is stronger, but it requires special equipment, costs more, and takes hours to cure. EVA is faster and cheaper, which makes it practical for short-lived or budget-friendly books.

Adhesive Binding Machine in Action

This video shows an Adhesive binding machine in operation. Stacked book blocks are fed into the machine, where their spines are roughened and coated with hot melt glue before the covers are wrapped around and firmly pressed, completing the glue-only binding process without any sewing.