Archival Products
Archival Products (Library Binding Service dba Archival Products) is a Des Moines, Iowa-based, 100% employee-owned manufacturer founded in 1986 that handcrafts acid-free enclosures, pamphlet binders, music binders, archival boxes, and conservation supplies for academic libraries, museums, archives, and individual collectors, selling primarily through its own e-commerce site.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersDes Moines, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Archival Products does
Archival Products (legally Library Binding Service dba Archival Products) is a Des Moines, Iowa-based manufacturer founded in 1986 that handcrafts archival-grade storage solutions — including enclosures, pamphlet binders, music binders, archival boxes, poly-enclosures, and conservation supplies — from acid-free, lignin-free materials buffered with calcium carbonate to ISO 9706 permanence standards. Since transitioning to 100% employee ownership in 2014, the company has produced its entire catalog in-house at a single facility on Thompson Avenue, employing between 1 and 10 employee-owners. Notable technical assets include the trademarked Spine Wrap™, Quick Bind™, and EZ™ Pamphlet Binder product lines, the Spiral Book Binder co-developed with the University of Iowa, and the Adjustable Four Flap Enclosure validated through user research with Harvard Library Preservation Services.
The company serves a primarily institutional customer base of academic libraries, museums, and archives, with secondary segments including music libraries, individual collectors, and art/collectibles enthusiasts. It sells predominantly through its own e-commerce storefront at archival.com, supported by phone and email consultation, a request-a-quote workflow for custom projects (minimum 25 pieces), and a dedicated international quote process with a 72-hour response commitment and $500 minimum order. Pricing is transactional unit-level, with pack sizes typically at $16.87 to $369.88, a $150 US order minimum, and 4-6 week lead times. Many flagship products originated from co-development with specific preservation customers, creating bespoke institutional solutions alongside the standard catalog of roughly 49 SKUs.
Archival Products firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Archival Products
- Legal name
- Library Binding Service dba Archival Products
- Website
- https://www.archival.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Archival Products (Library Binding Service dba Archival Products) is a Des Moines, Iowa-based, 100% employee-owned manufacturer founded in 1986 that handcrafts acid-free enclosures, pamphlet binders, music binders, archival boxes, and conservation supplies for academic libraries, museums, archives, and individual collectors, selling primarily through its own e-commerce site.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Archival Products industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Archival Preservation Products
- NAICS
- Libraries and Archives (51921)
- SIC
- Blankbooks, Looseleaf Binders & Bookbindg & Relatd Work (2780), Paperboard Containers & Boxes (2650)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Archives, Special Collections & Preservation Operations (Rare Materials, Conservation) (EDAEAGAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Education & Research Archives Storage (Universities, Libraries, Labs) (TLALALAH), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)
Keywords
Where Archival Products is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Des Moines
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Archival Products business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Archival Enclosure and Binder Sales: One-time product sales of archival enclosures, binders, boxes, and conservation supplies through e-commerce. Products are sold in packs (e.g., Pack of 5) at per-unit prices ranging from approximately $6 to $370. Custom orders are available at minimum quantities of 25 pieces for custom sizes.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard archival products (enclosures, binders, boxes, supplies) sold at per-unit prices |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Custom-size enclosures and bespoke preservation solutions |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | International orders |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
Archival Products product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Archival Products manufactures and sells handcrafted archival storage enclosures, pamphlet binders, music binders, archival boxes, poly-enclosures, and conservation supplies made from acid-free, lignin-free materials with calcium carbonate buffering. All products are produced in-house in Des Moines, Iowa by employee-owners, available in standard and custom sizes, and sold primarily to academic libraries, museums, archives, music libraries, and individual collectors seeking long-term preservation of books, manuscripts, photographs, sheet music, and other cultural artifacts.
Product overview
Archival Products is a physical product manufacturer specializing in archival storage solutions for preserving books, pamphlets, music scores, manuscripts, photographs, documents, textiles, and other valuable items. The company offers a diverse portfolio of enclosures, binders, and boxes as standalone products rather than a unified software platform. The core product line includes Four Flap Enclosures, Adjustable Four Flap Enclosures, and Exposed Spine Four Flap enclosures for book protection; Pamphlet Binders (EZ™ Pamphlet Binder, Spiral Book Binder) for document binding; Music Binders (Spine Wrap™ Music Binders, Quick Bind™ Music Binders with clear cover) for sheet music preservation; Archival Boxes, Drop Front Storage Boxes, Document Cases, and Photo/Record Album Storage for housing collections; Poly-Enclosures and Archival Polyester Envelopes/L-Sleeves for flexible protection; and Conservation Supplies including Bookkeeper Deacidification Spray for paper treatment. All products are handcrafted in Des Moines, Iowa with acid-free, lignin-free materials and custom sizing is available.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Spine Wrap™ Music Binders with Clear Cover Music binders designed to protect sheet music or other documents for years, featuring a clear cover and spine wrap binding mechanism where pamphlets are sewn in without adhesive touching the document.
- Adjustable Four Flap Enclosure Four flap enclosures that can be adjusted to fit various sizes of books and documents, providing flexible archival protection with intuitive book-like handling.
- Archival Plate Enclosure Specialized enclosures designed to protect plates, imaging plates, and similar flat archival items.
- Academy Folder Custom-designed folders developed in collaboration with customers for specific archival needs.
- Archival Photo and Record Album Storage Storage boxes designed for preserving photographs and vinyl records in archival conditions.
- Archival Polyester Envelope Uncoated polyester film envelopes that are strong, uniform, and dimensionally stable for archival storage.
- Archival Polyester L-Sleeves L-shaped polyester sleeves for protecting documents and photographs in archival storage.
- Bookkeeper Deacidification Spray Spray product for deacidification of paper to neutralize acids and extend document lifespan.
- Document Case Large archival storage boxes for documents, providing protection against environmental factors.
- Document Support Spacers Spacers used to support documents within archival boxes and ensure proper fit.
- Drop Front Storage Box Archival boxes with drop-front design for easy access to stored materials.
- Exhibit Folder Folders designed for exhibiting and protecting documents during display.
- Exposed Spine Four Flap Four flap enclosures with exposed spine design for specific archival applications.
- EZ™ Pamphlet Binder Easy-to-use pamphlet binders designed to protect documents using water-moistened binding strips without adhesives touching documents.
- Four Flap Enclosure Traditional four-flap paper enclosures that resemble books and provide intuitive handling and secure protection.
- Gray/White Coated Board 60-point archival board with gray/white acrylic coating for durability and protection, sold as Pack of 20.
- Heavy Duty Record Storage Box Sturdy storage boxes designed for vinyl records and heavy archival materials.
- Spiral Book Binder Designed with the University of Iowa and book conservators, provides quick solution for spiral bound books using sandstone archival board with clear PETG cover and locking rivet mechanism.
- Quick Bind™ Music Binder with Clear Cover (One Pocket) Mid-priced music binder with clear PETG cover, eliminating adhesive spine wrap, designed to lie flat on music stands. Includes optional Tyvek or Library Summit pockets.
- Quick Bind™ Music Binder with Clear Cover (No Pocket) Clear cover music binder without pocket, offering cost savings while maintaining archival quality materials.
Quantifiable outcome
- Archival board with 3% calcium carbonate reserve maintains pH above 7, resisting deterioration for centuries under proper storage conditions.
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Archival Products
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Archival Products technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Archival Products partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Harvard Library Preservation ServicescoreHarvard Library Preservation Services collaborated with Archival Products on user research studying how different users interact with preservation enclosures. Harvard's study, covering over 5,000 items re-housed annually, validated the four-flap enclosure's ease of use and intuitive design. This research-driven partnership informs product improvements and design refinements.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Archival Products competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Gaylord Archival: One of the largest US manufacturers of archival enclosures, boxes, and preservation supplies for libraries, museums, and archives. Directly competes with Archival Products across core product categories including pamphlet binders, folders, and storage boxes.
- Hollinger Metal Edge: Long-established US archival supplies manufacturer producing acid-free boxes, folders, and enclosures for libraries and archives. Closely comparable product mix and customer base to Archival Products.
- University Products: Specialty archival and conservation supplies company serving libraries, museums, and academic institutions with enclosures, boxes, and preservation products. Directly comparable offerings and customer segments.
- Talas: Book and paper conservation supplies distributor and manufacturer serving libraries, archives, and private conservators. Overlaps with Archival Products in archival board, enclosures, and binder products.
- Conservation Resources: UK-based manufacturer and supplier of archival and conservation materials, including enclosures, folders, and boxes for libraries, museums, and archives. Comparable product range with international reach.
- Brodart: Library and archival supplies company offering preservation products, furniture, and processing supplies to public, academic, and special libraries. Direct overlap with Archival Products in the library supply segment.
- Archival Methods: Specialty archival products manufacturer focused on acid-free enclosures, folders, and storage boxes for libraries, archives, and collectors. Direct competitor in the archival enclosure category.
- Light Impressions: Archival storage and preservation supplies provider serving libraries, museums, and individual collectors. Comparable product lines including polyester sleeves, folders, and storage boxes.
- Print File: Manufacturer of archival photo storage products including polyester sleeves, preservation pages, and binders. Comparable technology base (polyester enclosures) and overlap with photo and document preservation customers.
Broad incumbents
- Demco: Large established library supplies and furniture company serving public and academic libraries with a broad portfolio that includes archival and preservation supplies. Larger and broader in scope than Archival Products but overlapping in library customer base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Archival Products social profiles
Digital presenceArchival Products financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Archival Products leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Archival Products funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Archival Products M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Archival Products
What does Archival Products do?
Archival Products manufactures and sells handcrafted archival storage enclosures, pamphlet binders, music binders, archival boxes, poly-enclosures, and conservation supplies made from acid-free, lignin-free materials with calcium carbonate buffering. All products are produced in-house in Des Moines, Iowa by employee-owners, available in standard and custom sizes, and sold primarily to academic libraries, museums, archives, music libraries, and individual collectors seeking long-term preservation of books, manuscripts, photographs, sheet music, and other cultural artifacts.
Is Archival Products a public or private company?
Archival Products is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Archival Products founded?
Archival Products was founded in 1986. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Archival Products based?
Archival Products is headquartered in Des Moines, United States, in the North America region.
How does Archival Products make money?
One revenue line is on record: archival Enclosure and Binder Sales.
Who are Archival Products's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Gaylord Archival, Hollinger Metal Edge, University Products, Talas, Conservation Resources, Brodart, Archival Methods, Light Impressions and Print File. Demco is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Archival Products have an API?
No public API is recorded for Archival Products.
What industry is Archival Products in?
Archival Products's product category is Archival Preservation Products. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAEAGAJ, Archives, Special Collections & Preservation Operations (Rare Materials, Conservation), with a secondary code of TLALALAH, Education & Research Archives Storage (Universities, Libraries, Labs). Its NAICS code is 51921 and its SIC code is 2780.