Office Equipment Blog from Office Zone

Question:

We have a funeral home. Need a quality folding machine for our service folders, 50-500 copies at a time. What would you recommend?

Dan

Answer:

You may be surprised to learn that we have several customers who need a paper folding machine for the same application you’ve described. In fact, we sold a Dynafold model DE-102AF automatic paper folder to a funeral home just last week. The Dynafold DE-102AF is an ideal choice for most businesses since it features a budget-friendly price, and it performs a variety of paper folds. This model alone creates six popular fold types. And, the easy-to-use adjustable folding plates on the Dynafold machine let you create additional custom folds.

The DE-102AF is a user-friendly machine, and has a self-adjusting feature that lets you process different paper thicknesses. This particular paper folder can hold up to 500 sheets of paper at a time and can fold up to 6,000 sheets per hour.

Question:

I noticed that you offer coil binding machines in 4:1 pitch and 5:1 pitch. What does this mean? What’s the difference between the two sizes?

Answer:

Pitch refers to the number of holes the binding machine punches per inch. For example: a 4:1 coil binding machine punches four holes per inch, or 4:1. A 5:1 model punches five holes per inch. Why is there a difference? It’s basically a matter of preference. Some people like the look of the tighter spiral coil with 5:1.

A 4:1 pitch machine can bind more sheets than 5:1. You can bind up to 230 papers with 4:1, compared to 152 with a 5:1 pitch machine. The punched holes in the 4:1 paper are spaced farther apart, thus making it easier to turn the pages of a larger document.

We recently added one of the most unusual office products you’ll ever encounter. If you need to quickly and effectively erase sensitive data stored on computer disks, then the AML-6KG Degaussing Paddle by Applied Magnetics is the tool for you.

The AML-6KG destroys magnetically encoded data on hard drives, floppy disks, magnetic media, ribbon and other similar storage devices. This is a super-high-intensity magnet that does not weaken with age. This degauser has been evaluated by the U.S. government and meets NSA/CSS 9-12A-D requirements. The device is officially approved for complete and total data removal needs.

Question:

Your Maxxum 20 Twin Towers collator says it does offset stacking. What is that?

Answer:

The offset stacking feature on a collator comes in handy when you need to differentiate between various printed papers. Collators with an offset function will slightly move, or offset, a new stack of pages in the exit tray before the next set is processed and stacked. Offset stacking is a must-have for high-volume jobs.

Question:

I’m looking at the Compack 5800 Shrink Wrapper machine. I need a machine that can use a roll of 18″ shrink wrap film. I also need to know how many packages it can do per minute and the warranty it has. The Compack 5800 has the dimensions I’m looking for but I need to know answers to the questions above.

Good day,

Ada

Answer:

The Compack 5800 will hold a roll of shrink wrap film up to 18 inches wide. The production speed of this model is at least eight to 10 packs per minute. But your actual production rate may vary depending on the product you’re packaging and the efficiency of your staff.

We’ve sold the Compack 5800 for several years now and it has  proven to be a durable, dependable machine. It comes with a one-year warranty on all non-wearable parts. You can see this shrink wrap machine in action here.

The C-Lam 3308 pouch laminator from Tamerica features eight rollers for the clearest, cleanest finish available. The machine has four hot rollers and four cold. This highly versatile pouch laminator easily handles a wide variety of lamination film thicknesses from three to 10 mils.

The C-Lam 3308 laminator is the ideal choice for laminating photographs. The first set of hot rollers ensure adequate encapsulation and protection of your photos, while the remaining non-heated (or cold) rollers, located behind the hot, deliver smooth, ripple-free results.

You can also laminate promotional signs, restaurant menus, school projects and more. The model C-Lam 3308 laminator includes variable temperature and speed control. This built-in feature is ideal for professional-quality projects.

The machine automatically moves into energy-saving shut-off mode when not in use for 30 minutes. This impressive new pouch laminator from Tamerica is also simple to clean. All you need to do is remove four outer metal screws and the top lifts right off for quick, convenient access.

Question:

Hi I have a hobby making greeting cards and I was wondering if there is a paper cutter out there that will easily cut 1 sheet of paper or cardstock 8 1/2 by 11 in very precise increments so I would not have to cut my mats by hand. Nice mats are 1/16 inch thick and they must be EXACTLY cut. The prettiest cards have 3 or 4 mats in 1/16 inch increments and that is the most time consuming part of a project.

So lets say I have a 7 by 7 inch paper and I want a 7 1/16 by 7 1/16 inch mat for that. The only way for me is to measure it by hand and use an Xacto knife to cut it by hand because not even my Xacto laser trimmer is exact enough for me. So whatever trimmer I need would have to have a 1/16 inch grid with a stable guide to hold the paper against and no play whatsoever in the cut. Is there such a machine ??

Kind Regards,

Tina

Answer:

We highly recommend the Rotatrim brand Professional Rotary Paper Cutter for your application. Rotatrim rotary cutters are built to endure high volume use and ensure precise cuts every time. Materials of up to 3mm in thickness are easily and accurately cut with this machine.

The only issue you may encounter is the printed measurement grid on the cutting board. The smallest increments on the board (in U.S. units) are 1/8-inch. There is, however, a metric scale located right in front of the U.S. scale with millimeter marks.

Rotatrim paper trimmers are found world-round in business offices, schools, photo studios, homes and more. Each Rotatrim Professional has a transparent clamp that makes it easy to align your paper for stable, accurate cutting.

When looking for a rotary style cutter, be sure to get one with twin guide rails. These double rails ensure accurate movement, where the metal cutting head glides up and down the length of the cutting board with precise action. Rotatrim is indeed the model all other rotary trimmers are measured against.

Much-Anticipated Money Counter Model Now Available!

One of the frequently asked questions here at Office Zone has to do with our currency counters. Customers often ask if there is such a machine that can take a stack of mixed bills, ones, twenties, fives, etc. and not only count the entire pile but report the total denominational value.

Well, we’re happy to report that there is such a machine! It’s the new Klopp PLUS Banking System P-624 money counter. It does require more of an investment than most other bill counting models, but the technology that discriminates between the values of each note makes this a solid buy.

This amazing currency counter even features counterfeit detection. What more could you want in a bill counter? This model is easy to set up, operate, and has a large easy-to-read LCD display. Be sure to take a closer look at the P-624 PLUS Banking System Bill Counter today.

Document binding machines are a convenient and relatively inexpensive way to punch and bind a wide variety of documents, reports, proposals, school assignments, books and more. It just makes sense to handle your binding jobs in-house instead of outsourcing. That can be quite expensive.

However, a good, quality binding machine requires an investment of at least a few hundred dollars. These include models constructed mainly of metal parts engineered to handle heavy or consistent use. Most offices operate on a pretty tight budget, so you want your new binding machine to last a reasonable amount of time.

Initially, it can be a little overwhelming finding the right binding machine for your office, especially when there are dozens of different binding styles to choose from. The important thing to keep in mind here is machine specifications and ratings. It’s best to purchase a binding machine that’s rated to handle the volume of paper punching and binding you plan to do.

At Office Zone, we advise our customers to obtain a model that’s rated to handle a slightly higher work load than they anticipate. When you operate your binding machine under the manufacturer’s specifications, you put less strain on its moving parts, and other components subject to wear and tear.

We also highly recommend that you clean your binding machine from time to time. That means periodically checking the waste catch tray for punched chad, and then discarding all unwanted material. It’s also a good idea to ensure that all of your office staff are adequately informed and trained to use the machine before they begin their next binding project. And, if you ever experience problems with your binding machine, you can always contact our service technician who can help you solve most binding machine technical issues.

Office Zone offers other ideas, tips and suggestions on this page to help you extend the life of your binding machine in our Binding Machine Resources department.

The Little Money Counter/Counterfeit Detector That Could!

The ABC V-10 bill counter is really an amazing little machine. For under $120, you get a money counter that not only quickly and accurately counts a stack of bills, but it also helps you easily identify counterfeit money.

This bill counter is rated to handle low volumes of money, ideal for most small businesses. It’s especially useful if you need to take the unit out into the field because it also operates on batteries. The ABC V-10 compact bill counter verifies the authenticity of U.S. notes, thanks to three integrated counterfeit detection devices. These include a UV light, watermark light and magnetic ink sensor. The ABC V-10 delivers a lot of value for relatively little money, and is ideal for any business or organization that needs to eliminate fraud, count money, save time, and labor costs. You can view a short video demonstration of the ABC V-10 bill counter here.