Method and device for trimming at least one side edge of a bound printed product

A device for trimming at least one side edge of a bound printed product, the device comprising:

• a trimming table to receive the printed product in a position ready for trimming;
• a press die arranged to press the printed product against the trimming table during a trimming operation in a pressing direction, the press die being operative to rise and fall with respect to the trimming table, the press die comprising, at least in a region approximately near the side edge of the print product, support elements and an elastic surface arranged on the support elements and being operable to expand in a direction approximately transverse to the pressing direction, wherein the support elements and elastic surface include two sections with an opening between the two sections, wherein the support elements project at an acute to the pressing direction, with the support elements on opposite sides of the opening projecting away from other so that the elastic surface of one section is expandable in a direction away from the elastic surface of the other section in order to exert a stretching force onto an upper sheet of the printed product;
• a trimming knife positioned to trim the side edge, the trimming knife operable to move between a starting position away from the trimming table and an ending position at the trimming table;
• and
• a counter blade or a cutting bar mounted to limit a cutting stroke of the trimming knife.