Office Equipment Blog from Office Zone

Time clocks are a necessity for any business with employees. They are used to keep track of time worked, overtime, payroll and more. There are a wide variety of time clocks available, ranging from manual punch clocks to electronic card-swipe time clocks. Some can be integrated into a computer network and export data to payroll software such as ADP, Paychex, QuickBooks, Excel, and more. The latest industry trend is biometric time clocks.

What are biometric time clocks? They are time clocks that use a biological piece of an employee to sign in and out of work. This usually involves a fingerprint or a hand. There are currently no retinal scanning time clocks on the market at this time. Biometric time clocks can be used for small or large businesses.

As mentioned earlier, biometric time clocks are growing in popularity. This isn’t simply because they use the latest in technology or because they are “cool,” although there is some wow factor involved. This is because they use a unique identifier to log an employee in and out of work. There is no need to print a special card or use a traditional punch card.

Employees have their finger or hand scanned into a computer, using the biometric time clock, where employee information is associated with that unique scan.  From that point forward the employee can log in and out of work using their finger or hand. This is not only convenient for the employee, but also for the employer.

Another big benefit of using biometric technology for a time clock is the complete elimination of buddy punching. What is buddy punching? It occurs when a friend or fellow employee punches in and out of work on behalf of another employee. The biometric time clock ensures that an employee is only being paid for work “they” are doing and cuts down, if not completely eliminates, buddy punching fraud.

There are currently a couple of well-known manufacturers who make biometric time clocks. The first is Pyramid Technologies (PTI). They make a model called the Time Trax Bio that uses a finger swipe to log in and out of work. Another manufacturer is AcroPrint who makes a model called the HandPunch 1000, that uses an employee’s hand to log in and out of work.

Data accrued by the biometric time clock can usually be exported for use by other programs such as ADP, Paychex, QuickBooks, Excel, and more. This is very convenient and cuts down on errors and saves a lot of time. Time clocks are a necessary tool for any businesses or organization with employees. Biometric time clocks may be an option for you. Contact Office Zone for more information on time clocks.

Shrink wrap machines and vacuum sealers have a lot in common. They both use plastic-based films to package and preserve products. They are also both widely used in the commercial food industry. Not surprisingly, they are also both made by the well-known manufacturer Minipack. While the name may not be as well known as Sony or Microsoft, Minipack is one of the best-known manufacturers in the packing industry.

Minipack is headquartered in Italy, where they are known as Minipack-Torre. Minipack became a big player in 1976 with the release of several chamber shrink wrap machines. Minipack’s U.S. headquarters is based out of California and is known as Minipack America. Minipack has made a name for themselves over the past 30+ years because their machines have proven to be durable and get the job done right the first time.

Minipack’s all-star shrink wrap team features the Minipack Digit series, Diva series and Sealmatic series of shrink wrap machines, which are designed for high-volume packaging of CDs, DVDs, boxes and more. Minipack is also very popular in the low to mid-volume shrink wrap market with the release of their Galaxy and Galileo machines, which are compact and easy to use.

Most of Minipack’s shrink wrap machines use an integrated “chamber” heat tunnel. This increases the speed of shrink wrapping by cutting the film around the product and shrinking the film in one single pass. Some of the higher-end machines feature custom programming, magnetic locks, waste film winder and more.

Minipack also manufactures a wide variety of vacuum sealers, ranging from more traditional external models to chamber vacuum sealers. The Minipack Fast Vac is designed for home and low-volume vacuum sealing where their MVS series are designed for high-volume vacuum sealing.

Vacuum sealers are used to package fish, beef, vegetables and more. Food is placed in a special bag after which the air is removed and the bag is sealed. Due to the lack of air, the shelf life of food is dramatically increased. Vacuum sealing is also used to prevent freezer burn by protecting the food inside.

Unlike many department store vacuum sealers, Minpack vacuum sealers are serviceable. This means if for any reason a part wears out, it can be replaced. There is no need to replace the entire machine. This is also the case with Minipack’s line of shrink wrap machines.

Shrink wrap and vacuum sealing machines from Minipack are a great choice for any business that packages products on a regular basis. Contact Office Zone for more information on Minipack shrink wrap machines and vacuum sealers.

Scrapbooking is one of the fastest growing hobbies in the United States. Scrapbooking involves a wide assortment of materials, supplies and equipment. This involves various types of paper, scissors, paper cutters and laminators. If you have recently tried looking for scrapbooking equipment online, you have probably noticed that there is no shortage of choices.

The difficult thing, when starting up this hobby, is finding the right equipment that will last for hundreds, if not thousands, of scrapbook pages to come. It may seem overwhelming, but do not be discouraged. This article will give you a few tips on choosing the right paper cutter for your future scrapbooking projects.

Although there are now many scrapbooking software programs available today, many scrappers still prefer old-fashioned cutting and piecing things together. They enjoy the texture, the socializing with friends and the overall finished product. Many feel printing a scrapbook page out on a printer simply takes away from the true spirit of scrapbooking.

As mentioned earlier, there are a lot of pieces that go into creating the ideal scrapbook page. One of the most important pieces is the paper cutter. This is because a paper cutter is required to cut pictures down to size and make other modifications to the paper and decorations.

There are many paper cutters to choose from. The two most popular scrapbooking paper cutters are arm paper cutters and rotary paper cutters and trimmers. Both types of paper trimmers are compact and easy to use.

Arm paper cutters use a pivoting arm with a blade on it. This arm is brought up and then back down to create the cut. Arm paper cutters have been around for some time, and although many safety modifications have been added, the overall design has not changed for years. These paper cutters aren’t as popular with scrappers. This is because many inexpensive models tend to make crooked cuts. This isn’t to say that all arm paper cutters are like this. Some paper cutters, from brands such as Kutrimmer, are very solid and durable.

Rotary paper cutters are now the cutter of choice for scrapbookers. Rotary cutters use a round wheel to slice through paper. This wheel is similar in appearance to a pizza cutter. The wheel sits in a housing that slides along a rail. These types of paper cutters are especially popular with scrappers due to their precision and ability to cut photographs. Many rotary cutters have interchangeable blades for creating a variety of cutting patterns. Carl rotary cutters, specifically the RT-200, is popular for this reason. Rotatrim is another popular brand due to is solid construction.

Last, but not least, are the corner rounders. Corner rounders are popular for rounding the corners on pictures and paper. Most agree that rounding the corners, also a minor change, affects the overall appearance of the photograph. Corner rounders are often available with a variety of different cutting diameter dies. This usually varies anywhere from a 1/8-inch corner to a ½-inch corner.

Paper cutters continue to grow in popularity with scrappers and this popular hobby doesn’t appear to be running out of steam anytime soon. Contact Office Zone for more information on paper cutters.

Laminators and lamination technology have been around for decades. Not much as changed, as far as the film is concerned, but there are a few “modern” changes that have made lamination easier, faster and more professional. There are a few questions you may want to ask yourself before purchasing a laminator.

Laminators protect and preserve documents. This may be a menu for a restaurant, a treasured photograph or a stack of business cards. Some higher-end laminators can even be used to mount photographs, maps and posters to foam core board.

There are two primary types of laminators. These are pouch and roll laminators. Both ultimately bring about the same result and quality, but use slightly different methods to do this. Pouch laminators are typically smaller and are designed to laminate smaller documents. Roll laminators are designed to laminate many small items or larger documents such as posters or maps.

The largest documents usually laminated by pouch laminators are 8 ½ x 11 in size, although the length isn’t as much a limiting factor as is the width of the document. Roll laminators are usually around 25 inches in width, however, some industrial roll laminators can exceed 60 inches in width for laminating banners and other large material.

Pouch laminators use lamination pockets, referred to as pouch lamination film. These pockets are usually sealed on one side and open on three sides. Documents are then inserted into the pocket and run through the pouch laminator. This usually involves the assistance of a carrier, which is a non-stick manila-colored folder. The pouch is placed in the carrier to prevent the film from jamming in the machines and keeping hot glue from getting on the rollers.

Roll laminators use two separate rolls of lamination film. One is on the top and the other is on the bottom. The film is slid onto a metal mandrel, much like wrapping paper is on a cardboard core, which supports and dispenses the lamination film. The film is wound through the roll laminator prior to use. Once fully heated, material can then be run through the laminator.

A few modern changes that have manifest over the past few years with both pouch and roll laminators. Many laminators, both pouch and roll, now have digital readouts that indicate the temperature, speed and other settings. Adjustable temperature and speed control are both features that are now found on more than half the laminators on the market, where it used to be a small percentage. Many roll laminators also include cooling fans that help cool down the film as it exits the machine. This helps to prevent wrinkling and warping.

Lamination film is one of the most important parts of laminating something correctly. Years ago, when owning a laminator was cost prohibitive, pressure sensitive lamination film became very popular. Machines were not typically used and the film was manually applied to the document.

The downside to the pressure sensitive (cold) lamination film was the uneven application that resulted in wrinkles and bubbles. Pressure sensitive film is still used today, but primarily for heat sensitive documents and materials. The film is no longer manually applied, but is now used in conjunction with a cold laminator.

Hot lamination film is now the film of choice. While the glue is warmed in the laminator, silicon rollers evenly apply pressure to the film across the entire document. The more rollers in the laminator, the better the results. Film is available in a wide variety of sizes and thicknesses. The thickness of the lamination film is referred to as the mil. The mil thickness is measured in thousandths of an inch. Five-mil film is five-thousandths of an inch thick.

Laminators continue to be a popular tool for protecting and preserving documents. The type of laminator you buy or use depends entirely on the volume you need to laminate, the size of the document you need to laminate (thickness, length & width), future use, location where the laminator will be used and who will be using it. Contact Office Zone for more information on both roll and pouch laminators.

It’s time to face one cold hard reality of a recession, and that’s the upswing in theft and other criminal activities. Shoplifting is especially a concern for retailers and other businesses. So, what are you, as a concerned business owner, to do?

Office Zone fortunately offers several anti-shoplifting devices and supplies that keep most amateur thieves at bay. The systems we carry feature either hard tags or labels that are fastened to high-risk merchandise.

These are detected by transceivers, or those towers you commonly see when you walk out of the local Target or Wal-Mart. The appearance of these towers alone help thwart would-be burglars.

Are you considering a shoplift prevention system for your business? If so, be sure to learn more about it at Office Zone’s Shoplift Prevention Guide.

Employee time clocks are available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. These include old traditional punch clocks that use a time card, electronic swipe card systems and newer biometric time clocks that can scan a fingerprint to log an employee in and out. The type of time clock a business purchases depends entirely on the size of the organization, the type of software being used and the preferences of the accounting department.

The most simple and basic time clock is the traditional analog punch clock. The concept is simple. Each employee is assigned a card. The time card is usually stored in a rack of some sort. The employee uses the card to punch in and out of work. The time registered on the time card is then used to determine pay. Some newer variations of punch-style time clocks feature digital LCD readouts and can tally time on the punch card.

A few advantages of a punch time clock is it is usually less of an investment on behalf of the employer and the clock requires little training to use. A few disadvantages of a time clock include buddy punching and the inability to export data to a computer. Buddy punching is the process of one employee punching in and out on behalf of another employee.

Card swipe time clocks are growing in popularity. These time clocks use a card, very similar to a credit card, to check in and out of work. The card is programmed with unique data for each employee. These cards are sometimes even used to access the entrance of a building. The card can easy be carried in a wallet, hung around the neck by use of a lanyard or clipped to a shirt by use of a badge holder.

Data from most card swipe time clocks can be exported to a computer for use with various accounting programs such as QuickBooks. The data is easy to read and maintains a running total of hours worked, overtime and other information.

Also popular are time clock software and keypad time clocks. Keypads work in a similar way to swipe card time clocks, except the employee logs in and out of work by punching in a number. Many keypad terminals also have a card swipe. Data can also be exported and used with a variety of accounting programs.

Time clock software is installed on a computer. Depending on the type of software, an employee can log in and out of work from a centralized computer, or if they have a network version of the software, they can log in and out of work from their own computer.

The latest and most exciting type of time clock to come to the market is biometric time clocks. These time clocks allow employees to punch in and out of work by using their finger or hand, depending on the model. Data can still be exported to a computer for use with accounting programs. The biggest advantage of biometric time clocks is the ability to eliminate buddy punching and the need to replace lost or broken cards.

Regardless of the size of business, any organization can benefit from the use of a time clock. Contact Office Zone for more information on time clock systems.

Most modern shrink wrap systems utilize some type of a heat tunnel. The heat is used to shrink film, either PVC or Polyolefin, for the packaging of DVDs, CDs, boxes, packages and more. A heat tunnel is the fastest way to complete the shrink wrap process, usually taking less than 5 seconds per item. This time is faster with many higher-end machines. The old way of shrinking film was by using a heat gun, which is still popular for low volume applications.

The older heat guns resemble a hair dryer. Many people think that they are in fact hair dryers. Heat guns actually output significantly more heat that a hair dryer. While heat guns will quickly shrink film, they do not evenly shrink the film all at once and require the user to turn the object over a few times to reach the entire surface area. Heat shrink guns are typically used with lower-volume shrink wrap machines, such as straight-bar sealers.

Shrink wrap heat tunnels have been around for some time. They are able to blow hot air around the object being packaged. This allows the shrink film to constrict evenly and all at once. Most heat tunnels have a variable temperature dial that allows the user to adjust the temperature, depending on the type of film and product being packaged.

External heat tunnels are usually integrated with a shrink wrap machine by use of a conveyor system. Once the film has been cut around the product, the operator slides the package onto the conveyor where it is moved through the shrink wrap tunnel. Once the package exits the heat tunnel, another conveyor can be used to transport the product to another area. Sometimes a bin sits at the exit of the heat tunnel to collect packaged material.

Integrated shrink wrap tunnels, such as those found in most Minipack shrink wrap machines, seal film around the object being packaged and shrink the film in one single pass. No conveyor belts are required. This newer style of heat tunnel is now found in most modern shrink wrap machines.

The advantages of an integrated tunnel are speed, convenience and storage space. It is recommended by most professionals to purchase a system with an integrated shrink tunnel if an operator is to be present. If the machine is entirely automated without any human interaction, an external separate heat tunnel is still the equipment of choice.

Separate heat tunnels are a great option for those with existing systems that need to upgrade to something more robust and fast. Tunnels are available in various widths and heights to accommodate most products requiring shrink packaging.

Shrink wrap systems with integrated or separate tunnels are a great option for those packaging more than a few dozen items per day. You can contact Office Zone for more information on shrink wrap systems and tunnels.

Photo IDs are used almost everywhere. You need identification for employment, as a student, for driving, for getting into clubs and more. Photo IDs usually consist of a name, a picture, a birth date and other relevant information. Creating a photo ID, for legal purposes, is simple and easy.  This guide includes step-by-step instructions on how to create a simple photo identification.

The first item you will need to create a photo ID is a camera (preferably digital).  For an identification to look good, it is recommended that the subject being photographed be in front of a backdrop. There are many inexpensive backdrops available to purchase, typically available with a wide variety of colors. If a backdrop cannot be purchased, a sheet or a white wall can work. The backdrop makes the face easy to see and eliminates background distractions.

The second item needed is photo ID software. There are several software packages available from Card Five, EpiSuite, Asure ID and others. These software packages typically come with a few standard templates and feature a “wizard” that makes it easy to create your own custom template. This usually involves choosing a color for the card, some text, a picture and sometimes a logo. The software makes it easy to import clipart and photographs.

Other options that can be added to an ID card are a bar code or magnetic stripe. Most ID card software includes the ability to encode this information. Bar codes are the easiest to produce and do not require a special ID card printer. Simply enter the information you want in the bar code, choose the bar code format you would like to use and the software generates the bar code for you.

Encoding a magnetic stripe is just as easy, but your printer has to have a card encoder built into it. If you don’t have an encoder in your printer, separate magnetic stripe encoders are available as stand-alone units. If your printer has an encoder in it, the stripe will be encoded with the necessary information as the card is printed.

Now that you have a design, pictures and software, you can print the cards. This is done using a digital ID card printer. These are printers specifically designed to handle CR80 PVC cards. These cards are typically white, but can usually be ordered in special colors if needed. CR80 cards are the same size and thickness of a credit card.

Printers are available in monochrome, full-color, single-sided and double-sided designs. Although these printers are a bit of an investment up front, the cost is quickly made up versus having an outside company print the ID cards for you.

The amount of time it takes to print an ID card depends on the printer. It also depends on whether you are printing a single color or a full-color ID. Monochrome cards can usually print in about half the time of a full-color identification card. The total time is usually under a minute per card. Some are as fast as a few seconds.

Once the ID card is printed, it is usually necessary to present the ID in a convenient way. This usually involves carrying the ID card in a badge holder that can be pinned to a shirt or be attached to a lanyard. Slot punches are also available to punch a hole directly into the card for use with a badge strap clip, lanyard or badge reel.

Creating photo ID cards are quick and easy and can be done by anyone. Many businesses, colleges and other organizations are switching over to in-house ID card production. Contact Office Zone for more information on photo ID cards, software and accessories.

Grocery stores, food manufacturers and many individuals use vacuum sealers to protect and preserve food. In fact, vacuum sealers are the most commonly used piece of equipment for food packaging. The reason they are so commonly used is because vacuum sealers dramatically extend the shelf life of food. This is done by removing life-giving air that many life forms use to flourish. While this doesn’t completely eliminate spoilage, it helps a lot.

One of the most common food products to be vacuum-sealed are meats, especially for use in a freezer. Vacuum sealer bags not only decrease bacterial contamination, but also prevent freezer burn. You will commonly see this with halibut and salmon fish fillets & steaks. Vegetables are also commonly vacuum-sealed and frozen. The cold temperature further extends the shelf life of food.

When a store or manufacturer, whether big or small, is in the market for a vacuum sealer, there are a few things to keep in mind. There are two major types of vacuum sealers on the market. These are external and chamber vacuum sealers.

Although useful for low-volume production, external vacuum sealers are not an ideal choice for high-volume packaging. This is because external sealers do not operate, in most situations, at as high a speed as a chamber vacuum sealer. They also cannot be used to replace natural oxygen-based atmosphere in the bags with inert gas such as nitrogen. This is a key factor in packaging products such as potato chips.

Chamber sealers use an entirely different method of packaging versus external vacuum sealers. An external vacuum sealer removes air from within the bag and seals it. A chamber sealer removes air from the entire chamber, including the bag, seals the bag and then returns the vacuumed chamber to a normal atmosphere. Because the bag is sealed within the vacuum, the product is 99.99 percent air free once the process is completed.

Chamber sealers and some high-end external sealers will allow the amount of removed air to be adjusted. This is ideal when packaging delicate food products. When packaging delicate food, a chamber sealer (fitted with an inert gas kit) will remove 99.99 percent of the air within the chamber and then add a set percentage of inert gas (such as nitrogen) back into the chamber before sealing the bag. This way the bag isn’t tight against the food, but the air will not sustain most forms of bacteria.

Before choosing a chamber sealer, it is highly recommended to determine the maximum size of product to be packaged. This is because chamber vacuum sealers are available in different sizes. It is financially prohibitive to purchase a machine, only to find out a year later than larger products need to be packaged. A larger chamber can also allow the user to package multiple items at once, thus increasing packaging speeds.

Chamber vacuum sealers are an ideal investment for stores and businesses that package food on a regular basis. Contact Office Zone for more information on vacuum sealers.

There are many shops, businesses and entrepreneurs in the world who want to package and sell their products. This includes artwork, DVDs, gift baskets and more. One of the best ways to package a product is by using a shrink wrap machine. However, it isn’t always that simple. Often times, when a machine is purchased, the new owner has no idea where to go from there. There are several different types of shrink wrap film, depending on what is being packaged, that can affect the end product.

There are many questions one asks when researching packaging material for the new machine. Should I buy PVC or Polyolefin film for my shrink wrap machine?  What is the difference between the two? Is one better than the other?

The first thing to consider when looking for packaging material is to analyze what you will be packaging. With regards to the type of shrink wrap film you use, one must determine whether or not the product is edible, if multiple products be packaged together, if there are any sharp corners and whether or not the shrink wrap machine be used indoors.

The two most common types of shrink wrap film used today are PVC and Polyolefin film. PVC film used to be the film of choice. It was inexpensive and widely available. Polyolefin film has been growing in popularity over the past few years and is now almost as common as PVC shrink film.

PVC film is still very popular for use with CD and DVD packaging. You will also find PVC film being used to package boxes, software and other non-edible products.  PVC film is more brittle than Polyolefin film and is not good for use with bundling multiple products. PVC film is also not safe for use with food products. PVC film emits an odor that some may find irritating if being used indoors. It is always recommended to use PVC film in a well-ventilated room.

Polyolefin film is very popular for use with food products, gift baskets, bundling multiple products and more. Poly film is more pliable than PVC film and does not tear easily. Polyolefin emits little odor and is fine for use indoors. As mentioned before, polyolefin is perfectly safe to use with food.

Most shrink wrap machines are capable of using both PVC and Polyolefin film. The heat required to shrink both types of film is about the same. Polyolefin and PVC film can be shrunk using a heat tunnel or a heat gun.

Shrink wrap continues to be the preferred choice for packaging products. Feel free to contact Office Zone for more information on shrink wrap machines.