With the advent of new technologies, collating services have been transformed from a clumsy part of the printing and binding industry, into a new, graceful, profit-making area, according to Graphic Arts Monthly. For consumers, that means more and better collating service providers to choose from.

Collators vary in the solutions they provide, from complete digital printing, collating, finishing and binding to simple paper collating service.

Search for paper collators in these three areas:

1. Some printers and collating service companies offer on-line quotes and estimates. This is a good way to shop around quickly.

2. Printers large and small, with coverage varying from local to national, often provide collating service, as do many literature fulfillment companies.

3. Select product fulfillment houses and logistics companies that also run a collating business, and sometimes contract out to printers who lack collating capacity.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find a quote or enter an inquiry on-line for paper collating services

Some collating service companies offer on-line quotes or respond to inquiry on-line. These time-saving options make the companies worth checking out.

I recommend: Budco: The Dialogue Company allows on-line inquiries for collation service and general document finishing services. In Columbus, Ohio, ARC Industries offers web-based quotes for contracted work, including collation services.

Explore the options from leading printers and collators across the country

Some printers and literature fulfillment companies, who do paper collation, serve the national market. They also offer easy on-line access.

I recommend: With four production centers located in New York, Illinois, Missouri, and California, Rapid Solutions Group provides a range of literature fulfillment services, including collating service. They offer personalized and customized service within a broad range of options, as well as fast turnaround times—24 to 48 hours. Located in Rockville, MD, Rockville Printing & Graphics offers collating services ranging from simple collation to the complete production of finished booklets. They also give estimates on-line. Located in Orange, CT, Fulfillment Works is a full-service company that sells collating service as part of their literature fulfillment area. Go to their website to request a quote.

Take your collating service needs to a broader fulfillment and logistics company

Paper collation services can be found at companies that provide broader fulfillment, logistics, warehousing and supply-chain solutions. In addition to printing or literature fulfillment, some of these companies act as paper collators for printers, who do not have this capability themselves.

I recommend: With offices in Indianapolis, IN, and the Minneapolis area, InserTec contracts out to printers who lack collators themselves, and advertises a complete range of supply-chain and logistics services. CSR Industries, in East Dundee, IL, has several collating machines, including both air and friction feed, to turn around orders in a timely fashion. They are mainly a product fulfillment and shrink-wrapping company.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make your files compatible. If you are transmitting your documents electronically to your collating service providers, choose the preferred file formats within the professional printing environment. These include PDF files and those made with QuarkXPress, Adobe PageMaker and Adobe InDesign. Also widely accepted are Photoshop and Illustrator from Adobe.