Construction

Binder Covers and Menu Covers - Construction Options

What type of construction do you use for Menu Covers and other Menu Cover Design Options

Impact offers Turned-edge construction, Heat-sealed construction, and ‘Fixed Material’ construction

Turned-edge Construction:

Long considered to be the more upscale type of construction, Turned-edge requires a minimum of two materials to create a menu cover: a rigid material and a flexible or supple material that is turned over the edges of the rigid material. Thus the name turned-edge. The supple material (your cover material choice) covers one side of the rigid material as it wraps over the edges and around to the back side of the rigid material. The resulting edges are smooth and continuous and provide a nice clean appearance.

The rigid material is frequently called substrate, or underlying board. It can be chipboard, plastic, metal, or some other material.
The cover material is the finish material. It can be one of many different materials such as leather, faux leather, thin metals, linen, other fabrics, vinyl, paper, urethane, etc.
The lining material can be the same as the cover material or one of many other different materials

A unique Impact feature is that we can use multiple cover materials in turned-edge construction when creating a menu cover or other menu cover design options. We are the first to ‘marry’, or join, two or more cover materials to create unique, eye-catching, and branding quality designs for our menu covers. If you would like two or more lining materials joined also…, just ask Impact.

Heat-sealed Construction

A more economical menu cover construction, particularly for large quantity orders. Essentially, the cover material and lining material are typically both vinyl, and are joined at the edge of the rigid underlying board (substrate) by a heat process that melts and blends them together at the edge . Once cooled, the uneven edge is cut straight, but does leave an edge that is somewhat rough to the touch. It is this ‘rough’ edge that makes “Heat-sealed’ products somewhat less ‘upscale’, HOWEVER, we have produced many beautiful and uniquely designed menu covers and other menu cover design options using heat-sealed construction.

Impact’s choice of heat-sealable materials is extensive. We offer faux leathers in many different textures and colors, and can offer many of the design features that we have available for Turned-edge construction. Heat-sealed menu covers have become quite sophisticated in appearance and design.

‘Fixed’ Material Construction

‘Fixed’ Material is a term that we use to describe a menu cover material that consists of a single material. Solid wood is an example, as is solid metal, Plexiglas, tempered glass, uncovered chipboard, etc. The cover consists of a single uncovered material. Typically, these will be manufactured using a quarterbind spine, however, Impact has developed several new designs which provide alternatives to a quarterbind spine.

Impact is the foremost manufacturer of solid wood menu covers. We are also the first to use tempered glass in our binder cover and menu cover designs. We offer all in unique shapes.