Office Equipment Blog from Office Zone

Do you need to print your signature on checks and other critical documents on a daily basis? If so, the Widmer S-3 check signer is up to the task. Using a check signing machine will save you significant time, and prevent writer’s cramp. The S-3 operates very similar to an employee time clock. You simply slide the check or other document into the front slot and the machine automatically stamps your signature, or other information, on the paper. It’s as simple as that. This highly efficient check signer increases productivity in a big way. Be sure to find out more about the Widmer S-3, SX-3 Check & Document Stamper/Signer today.

The maker of the CardMate business card cutter claims you can cut to size 60 business cards in 60 seconds, but is this really the case? The Cardmate is a low-cost, lightweight unit that can be easily moved and small enough to sit on your desk.

To use the CardMate, you simply print out your business cards on 8-1/2 x 11-inch sheets of paper, preferably business card stock. Then use the manual hand crank to pull the paper through. As the paper moves through the machine, it is initially cut in long strips. After only two passes through the machine, you can quickly create standard sized business cards.

So, can you really create 60 business cards in 60 second? We tested our demo model and yes, you most certainly can attain that number, given everything is in place and you have some experience with the machine. If you hand out business cards on a frequent basis, we’ve found that the CardMate business card cutter pays for itself in very little time.

I watched your vacuum sealer video on YouTube. I’m interested in purchasing one of these machines. Question: Can I seal a slab of ribs with the BBQ sauce as a part of the contents?

Answer: Yes, you most certainly can vacuum seal ribs, or any kind of meat for that matter, with the barbecue sauce in the bag. This will help you better preserve the meat and locks in that delicious barbecued flavor. We highly recommend the MiniPack MVS 45 for commercial or high-volume jobs, and the MiniPack MVS 31 for home use.

Here’s a quick paper folding machine tip that will save you time and a lot of frustration. One thing to keep in mind when first unpacking your new paper folding machine is the importance of correctly installing the folding plates.

The folding plates are the two critical components of the machine that fold the paper to the desired specifications. Most manufacturers design their machines in a way that you must install both the upper and lower folding plates. There are a few execeptions, of course, but most machines come without the folding plates installed.

When installing the folding plates, make sure they are inserted and mounted properly. The best way to do this is to take a look at the underside of the plate to ensure that the plate’s mounting notches are resting entirely on the mounting knobs. If not, then your machine will not perform correctly. This little troubleshooting tip will save you a lot of frustration and worry. We have found over the years that 90% of paper folding machine issues are related to improper installation of the folding plates.

For more information on automatic paper folders, be sure to visit our paper folding guide or contact one of our customer service reps today.

Are you looking for ways to save on shipping costs? Would you also like to find a way to recycle all of those empty cardboard boxes in your warehouse? We have the solution for you. Office Zone has a wide assortment of cardboard box shredders. What exactly are a cardboard shredders, you say? These are heavy-duty machines that take an ordinary cardboard box, chew it up, and spit out soft, corrugated cardboard material, perfect for packaging and shipping most items.

Another benefit of a cardboard shredder is the space you will free up in your warehouse. If your business is like most, you have a portion of your office or warehouse where old cardboard boxes are stacked away. You can now turn these old boxes into free packaging material, and free up a lot of extra space too.

Be sure to watch this video demonstration of a cardboard shredder in action. Be sure to also take a look at our wide selection of cardboard box shredders today.

Are you in the market for a new paper shredder? If so, the following may be of some use. Budget is typically the first consideration here. Most businesses set a cap on what is allowed with new office equipment investments. You can certainly find a cheap paper shredder at several of the big box retailers, but most of those models were designed for light use. Most of these machines will effectively shred just a few sheets of paper at time, and often not in the most efficient and secure way.

With that in mind, we suggest that you next look for some critical features in your next paper shredder. How sensitive is the information that needs to be shredded? Most likely it’s not top-secret information. We do have shredders, however, that the government, especially the military, finds useful for destroying sensitive papers and other related items.

Some people wonder out loud why someone couldn’t simply burn these papers instead of shredding them? That’s a good question, but there’s definitely a reason why burning doesn’t work, especially for the military. When you burn papers, oftentimes there are remaining scraps of paper that were not consumed in the fire. And, most skilled experts can still decipher printed material from a burned document.

The best way is to completely pull apart, or shred these type of papers with a cross cut shredder and leave them in such a state that reassembly is virtually impossible.

Most offices find a Level 3 security cross cut shredder sufficient for their needs. These machines typically let you shred about 20 documents at a time, saving you valuable time, and their waste bins hold a lot of shredded material. That means less trips to the garbage dumpster.

Be sure to visit the Office Zone Web site for more information and tips about cross cut paper shredders. Also, please revisit our blog this week for more helpful paper shredder tips.