Hardcover books are often one of the most complex stages to automate in digital production workshops. To address this issue, Meccanotecnica is launching Lyra, a new boxing machine for glued square-back hardcovers, presented at Book Your Future 2026, held from May 26 to 29 at its headquarters in Bergamo, Italy.
Designed to facilitate job changes and produce bound books in very short runs, right down to single copies, Lyra links production data via the JDF file and barcodes printed on book blocks and covers, and automates all settings.
It also solves the problem of recruiting qualified staff. "We've transferred the binder's know-how into the system so that format changes can be made in seconds rather than minutes," says Stefano Formentini, Meccanotecnica's worldwide sales and marketing director.
The director cites the example of DIY Media Group, a record manufacturer and short-run book printer in the USA, which is said to have cut its production costs by $1 per book and doubled its output thanks to the use of this machine developed by Meccanotecnica.
At Book Your Future 2026, visitors were able to discover the entire production workflow implemented by Meccanotecnica. Demonstrations included the Universe sewing system, the Sirio stitching line and this new nesting solution.
