MSL Insights

Thermal Tape Binding Machines from Fastback

Mid-State Litho

Shop staple · Thermal tape binding

Fastback thermal tape binding is strong, durable, and attractive. Pages hold more than 50 pounds of pull. The thermoplastic adhesive does not go brittle with age — right for archival storage — and a book comes off the machine in seconds.

Thermal tape bound documents on a bookshelf — Fastback binding from Mid-State Litho
Fastback thermal-strip books — lay-flat spines, no punch holes.
Speed
15 seconds · 3.5× faster
Strength
50+ lb pull · archival
Capacity
10–700 pages · Model 20

Mid-State Litho stocks Fastback thermal tape strips for Powis Parker Fastback 9 and Fastback 20 systems. Thermal tape sits beside punch-and-bind on the binding machines floor — no holes, a heat-activated strip, a finished spine in one button press.

What is Fastback thermal tape binding?

A Fastback binder melts a thermoplastic strip along the book-block edge. The strip is the spine. There is no punch, no coil, no comb, and no glue pot to maintain. Fastback binders run about 3.5 times faster than competitive punch-and-bind systems, and the Thermal Strip opens true lay-flat.

Key characteristics

  • Bind in about 15 seconds — one-touch operation
  • More than 50 pounds of pull on the finished book
  • Thermoplastic adhesive stays flexible — archival storage
  • True lay-flat spread for manuals, reports, and presentations
  • No punching; strip inventory is compact
  • Ideal for offices, copy shops, schools, and in-plants that want a clean spine without a perfect binder

Fastback Model 20

Create strong books and documents in 15 seconds or less. Anyone can run the 20 — one-touch button. Bind 10–700 page documents with a small, space-saving strip inventory. The Fastback 20 is the binder a busy office or copy shop actually keeps on the counter.

Fastback Model 20 thermal tape binder
Fastback Model 20 thermal tape binder
Fastback bound document withstanding more than 50 pounds of pull
More than 50 pounds of pull
Fastback thermal tape binding — true lay-flat spread
True lay-flat binding

Fastback Model 9

The Powis Fastback Model 9 is built for departmental and office use. Place the strip and the book block in the binder and press the green button.

For custom spines, Image Strip and LX Image Blank let you print the brand on the strip so each prospectus, manual, case study, and report looks finished — not generic.

Fastback Model 9 thermal tape binder
Fastback Model 9 thermal tape binder
Fastback Model 9 one-button green control
Green-button operation
Fastback Model 9 lay-flat bound document
True lay-flat binding

Shop staple

Fastback thermal strips, in stock

Super Strips for Fastback 9 and Fastback 20 — colors and widths for letter-size work. Machines and strip inventory ship from Grand Blanc.

Fastback strips Binding machines

Thermal tape vs other binding methods

Thermal tape is one bindery method. It is not a punch-and-bind system and it is not a perfect binder. Pick it when you want a clean spine, no holes, and no glue-pot maintenance.

Coil, comb, and wire

Punch-and-bind. Coil lays flat and rotates 360°. Comb reopens to add pages. Wire looks the most finished. Right when you already punch, or when pages have to come out later. Full comparison: coil vs comb vs wire.

Perfect binding (EVA / PUR)

Hot-melt into a milled spine — paperbacks, catalogs, manuals. A different machine class: glue pot, mill, cover nipping. Glue choice: EVA vs PUR. Shop perfect binders.

Thermal tape (Fastback)

Heat-activated strip, no punch, no pot. Fastest path to a closed spine on office and on-demand work. Super Strips for the 9 and the 20 live on the Fastback strips collection.

Questions on a Fastback 9, Fastback 20, or strip size? Email support@midstatelitho.com or call 1-800-343-4231. Mid-State Litho, 5459 Fenton Road, Grand Blanc, MI 48507.