Spiral Binding Company Inc

Spiral Binding Company, Inc. (http://www.SpiralBinding.com) first opened its doors in 1932 as the first mechanical binding company in the United States. They have had many significant contributions to the post printing industry with the largest being the original metal spiral-coil binding. Spiral Binding created Spiralastic a popular plastic coil to replace wire during World War II. Spiral Binding acquired James Burn North America in 2007. James Burn North America was renamed James Burn USA, thus creating the largest family owned document finishing company in America.

Spiral Binding Corporate Headquarters

History

1930s

In 1932 Frank Amato of Italy worked in a manufacturing metal spiral-coil binding and binding books in France for the European market. Mr. Amato worked out a deal to become the exclusive U.S. rep for metal spiral-coil binding, and in the height of the depression he founded Spiral Binding Company, Inc., America's first mechanical bindery, in New York City in 1932. Both the news industry and the education market are two of the lightest hit industries during the depression, which enabled Spiral Binding to enjoy success during a tumultuous period in American history. The application for a patent was filed by W. Walter Grumbacher. The application was filed on March 1, 1935. The title of the patent was “Binding Construction and Method.” It describes in detail the construction of a spiral bound notebook. The patent was assigned to the Spiral Binding Co, Inc. of New York. Grumbacher signed over the license for this design to the Spiral Binding Co., Inc.

Gregg Shorthand Systems became Spiral Binding 's first big client. The company hired Spiral to bind their stenographer notebooks in the new metal spiral-coil, enabling them to open 360 degrees, rather than being bound with tape and/or glue like most legal pads of paper are bound today. Western Pad and Tablet (now MeadWestvaco) becomes another of Spiral Binding's big clients, who hired Spiral Binding to bind their school notebooks. Today MeadWestvaco still binds their books in the same metal spiral-coil.

Spiral Binding during this period continually opened trade binderies throughout the U.S. and had 10 binderies coast-to-coast from NY to San Francisco. In 1937 Western Pad and Tablet stopped using Spiral Binding to bind their books in order to gain more control of their process and they bound their own books. However, Western Pad and Tablet have no equipment to do this, and contracted Spiral Binding to build binding machines for them. Spiral Binding's Equipment Division is born from this. The Equipment Division created machines for trade businesses using Double-O® Wire and other bindings, and enabled Spiral Binding to enter these markets for the first time.

1940s

With World War II in full force, Mr. Amato predicted a shortage in wire raw material coming from Europe and stocked up on a 2 year supply. The U.S. Government realized this and seized the raw material in order to produce machine gun triggers. As a result, Spiral Binding developed plastic coil binding which became a great success. Today, Spiral Binding markets the same product under the trademarked name Spiralastic®.

Once World War II ends the economy rebounds. Spiral Binding’s customers grew, and like MeadWestvaco, many wanted to bring their binding processes in-house. As a result, Spiral Binding sold some of their binderies and the equipment division flourished. This allowed Spiral Binding to be able to cater to customers of all sizes; from small customers who want to bind a few books at a time to large customers who want to buy equipment and supplies and bind in-house.

1950s – 1970s

Spiral Binding’s Chicago plant relocates and expands with increased facilities and larger floor area. They set a mechanical binding production record for spiral binding over a million books over 12 weeks.

In 1963 Spiral Binding opened a 40,000 square foot plant in Clifton, NJ and relocated its headquarters.

Frank Amato passes away in June, 1965 and leaves the business to his wife. She sells it to the 3 employees there the longest - Katherine Randizzi, George Blake, and George Roth. In 1974 George Roth and George Blake buy out Katherine Randizzi's share and become 50/50 partners.

1980s - 1990s

In 1981 George Roth and George Blake retire. Robert Roth (George Roth’s son) then becomes President & CEO. Spiral Binding opens its first West and Mid-West offices in California and Texas. Spiral Binding introduces the patented Spiral-O® wire binding, allowing users to turn a 19 hole plastic comb punch into a wire binding punch. Spiral Binding began to import products from Taiwan, well ahead of the Asian-import explosion. Spiral Binding’s headquarters relocated to a new 75,000 square foot office and warehouse in Totowa, NJ which is its present location.

In the 90s last of the binderies were sold off and Spiral Binding became focused on delivering binding, laminating equipment and related presentation supplies such as binders and index tabs. On July 30th 1995 Spiral Binding launched its website http://www.SpiralBinding.com. Spiral Binding's main Canadian sales and distribution center moves to its present Mississauga, Ontario, location and SpiralBinding's New York sales and distribution centers opens on Cedar Street in Manhattan.

2000s

http://www.SpiralBinding.com goes through major upgrades and accepts its first online order. Because of increasing business in the non-trade sector Spiral opens its National Accounts department. This allows Spiral Binding to put greater focus towards the specific needs of their larger end-user Fortune 500 customers.

In 2001 Spiral Binding's NY Cedar Street office is forced to relocate due to the devastating events of September 11th at the World Trade Center. A new location opens at 50 West 23rd Street in Manhattan.

Spiral Binding soon expands its product line to the greater document finishing industry encompassing binding as well as other 'finishing' techniques such as cutting, folding, creasing, etc. They unveil their new trademark, "Where Finishing Begins™", along with a new logo, a web site redesign, and a new product catalog. In 2005 Spiral Binding decided to move from West 23rd Street to 8th Avenue in Manhattan due to massive growth.

In 2007 Spiral Binding acquired James Burn North America, which becomes James Burn USA, LLC. Spiral Binding then became the largest family-owned document finishing business in America, with 8 sales and distribution centers in North America.

In June 2010 Spiral Binding received The Feingold Award from the Binding Industries Association for the Snakeskin Wire. Snakeskin Wire is Wire-O that is packaged in a flexible plastic "skin" that completely protects the wire, while affording more loops per box. This translates to reduced storage costs and reduces costs associated with the dismantling of the spools and thereby product.

External links

• Spiral Binding Corporate Site
• Spiral Binding to Receive the Feingold Award