Office Equipment Blog from Office Zone

With one counterfeit detection unit, looks can be deceiving. And that’s a good thing. On the outside, the MD-118 FL Portable UV Money Detector appears to be nothing more than a simple ultraviolet (UV) light. We admit that the MD-118 FL isn’t the most high-tech looking counterfeit detector out there. Yet, its simple design and operation will spare you a significant amount of money and stress. After all, if you accept a counterfeit note and then try to deposit it at the bank, it will be immediately detected and not accepted. It’s yours.

The UV lamp of the MD-118 FL counterfeit detector helps you verify legitimate currency embedded with protective UV-enabled features. The UV properties of a legitimate bill, such as watermark images and symbols, will immediate display when held under the special light of the MD-118 FL. Fake bills have none of these characteristics simply because they are extremely difficult and expensive to replicate.

The MD-118FL is also impact resistant and small enough to fit in your pocket. It operates on four “AA” batteries (not included), and comes with a built-in AC adaptor jack.

The SigLite 1×5 T-S460 is an entry-level, basic Topaz signature pad model, yet it delivers a lot of practical features for such a modest price. This unit does remarkably well in applications where budgetary constraints are a concern. The SigLite 1×5 features high-quality forensic capture techniques with touchpad and passive stylus. It has a HID-USB interface with a 1” x 5” signing area.

Every Topaz pad, regardless of the model, is shipped with a CD containing Topaz’s patented SigPlus Software Development Toolkit, at no additional charge. This toolkit, plus free updates and development support from both Computime and Topaz Systems, allows you to easily integrate Topaz products into most applications.

The SigLite 1×5 comes with a 1-year limited manufacturer’s warranty, and free technical support both before and after the sale. That’s why Topaz models are the best-selling signature capture pads on the market today.

The ABC V-30 Money Counter is an unusual machine, when compared to most models. It’s compact, and one of the few bill counters that can actually run on batteries. All you need to do is install four AA batteries and you’re in business. It may also be plugged into a wall outlet.

Our customers tell us the reason why they chose the ABC V-30 is because of its portability. You can fit it into a small bag, briefcase, satchel or purse. It’s the ideal money counting model for traveling or portable businesses such as shopping mall kiosks, trade show exhibits, concerts, special events and more.

You can also count a wide variety of items in addition to money. The ABC V-30 will count checks, coupons, tickets, ribbons, tags and much more. ABC V-30 Money Counter runs at a speed of 600 bills per minute.

Biometric employee time clocks are essentially payroll time clocks that scan and use a biological piece of an employee’s body to help them sign in and out of work. The scan usually involves a fingerprint or a handprint. Years ago, biometric time clocks were only affordable for large businesses and government organizations. Today, fortunately, biometric time clocks are affordable even for small home businesses.

The technology is quite simple and works this way: Employees scan their index fingerprint into the time clock. Employee identification information is then associated with that unique scan. From that point forward, the employee may log in and out of work by simply using their fingerprint scan.

This is not only convenient for the employee, but also a significant security feature for the employer. Here’s why: The most substantial benefit of using a biometric employee time clock is the complete elimination of buddy punching. Buddy punching unfortunately happens when a fellow employee punches in and out of work on behalf of a coworker. A biometric time clock ensures that an employee is only being paid for the work they are doing. This keeps employees honest and lets employers rest easy knowing they have a fool-proof method in place for avoiding buddy punching.

You can use Roller Cleaner Rejuvenator spray to clean the rubber rollers on friction-feed paper folding machines. The cleaner removes rubbed-off printer ink and paper dust (both cause annoying paper jams). The specially formulated chemicals in the roller rejuvenator also help prevent cracks in the rubber material and keep them adequately moisturized.

Roller cleaner is not a necessity, but it most certainly ensures optimum performance when folding large volumes of paper. Just a word of warning: Never use other chemical cleaners, such as rubbing alcohol, to clean your paper folder rollers. Alcohol will dry out the rubber rollers and cause cracking.

Office Zone also sells Static Eliminator. This is an aerosol spray that may be applied to various components of a paper folding machine, helping to cut down on static electricity. Static electricity causes paper sheets to stick together and cause paper jams.

Are you looking for a paper shredder manufactured in the US? That’s a difficult proposition these days since most brands originate overseas. Most United States-based shredder manufacturers outsource their raw materials and assembly work in China, Korea and Germany. Fortunately, there’s still one legitimate US paper shredder manufacturer out there: Ameri-Shred.

Ameri-Shred specializes in heavy-duty commercial, office and business shredders. Thanks to this relatively new brand of paper shredders to Office Zone, you can support US commerce and shred large volumes of paper and not worry about overheating or breaking down. These are durable, 100-percent American-made paper shredders. Each model is manufactured with high-quality solid steel parts. This means your shredder will cut through thick stacks paper without flinching.

Most Ameri-Shred paper shredders are capable of shredding through hundreds of pounds of paper per hour. One model can even destroy 230 sheets of paper at a time! Be sure to take a closer look at all American-made Ameri-Shred paper shredders today.

True story: Yesterday we had a customer stop by our office looking for pouch lamination film. She wanted to get the right kind of film for her laminator, so she brought in her machine just to be sure. She had a model PL4A pouch laminator by Banner American. Her machine is decades old and is still in fine working condition.

The PL4A is literally a marvel of quality product engineering. We admit that the machine isn’t the most stylish, but it’s what’s inside that counts. The PL4A is a small, rugged lamintor thanks to its internal metal gears and a beefy motor. You can laminate business cards, ID cards, luggage tags, tickets, you name it, all day and the machine simply doesn’t quit.

The independent heat and motor control system of the American-made PL4A allows it to be left on standby (heat ready) for hours at a time without wearing out the motor. The handy standby feature means you can instantly re-start laminating at any time. The PL4A is rated as a high-volume, high-quality, pouch laminator and comes highly recommended by Office Zone.

Signature capture pads and pens are making an invasion into many aspects of our lives. If you buy something at the store using a credit card, you have probably used a one of these devices. Ever picked up a prescription? You have probably used one. The same goes if you have ever signed for a package as it is delivered. These pads can be used to capture signatures for a variety of applications. Here are a few basic tips and information regarding these unique devices.

Digital pen tablets allow the operator to use a pen-like instrument to sign a plastic pad that captures that signature and transforms it into an image. This image can be stored in a database, be pasted into a document, be e-mailed and much more. There are several uses for these devices.

Many digital capture tablets can be integrated into existing software programs. Topaz, one of the leading manufacturers of these types of devices, has several developer kits available for use with multiple programming languages. Some kits make it possible to even securely sign documents over the Internet. Topaz manufactures lines such as the SigLite, SignatureGem and more.

Not all capture pads are the same. They vary in design and function, depending on the need for the device. The most basic signature capture pads typically handle around 10,000 signatures. Other signature capture pads can handle upwards of 250,000 signatures.

Entry-level signature capture pads do not include a visual LCD interface. They simply capture a signature, albeit there is a guide line letting the customer or user know where to sign. This is often all that is needed. LCD versions of signature capture pads include visual guides on where to sign the signature and allow the user to see their signature as it is being signed. LCD pads will often allow the integration of a menu guide for use with POS systems.

If you still require a paper copy, for filing or legal issues, there are signatures capture tables that use a sheet of paper on the surface, but can still capture the data digitally underneath the paper. The surface area of the signature capture pad varies as well, depending on how large a signature or how much data needs to be captured or displayed. Most pads have at least a 1 x 5-inch surface area.

Signature capture pads continue to rise in use and popularity. You can find out more information about digital pen tablets by contacting Office Zone.

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 two 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 film 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. Contact Office Zone for more information on shrink wrap machines.

Shrink wrapping products used to be something only found in a factory or industrial warehouse. Shrink wrap machines were huge cumbersome machines that required several people to operate. This is no longer the case. Shrink wrap machines are now available for small business and individual use. These machines are inexpensive and shrink film is cheaper than ever.

Shrink wrap machines used to be traditionally used for packaging CDs and DVDs. It was also used to package software boxes, tapes and other items. While shrink wrap can still be used to package CDs and DVDs, shrink wrap can also be used to package old documents, invoices, gift baskets, soap and much more.

There are two main types of shrink wrap machines available. These are known as I-bar and L-bar shrink wrap machines. Both machines are relatively easy to set up. I-bar sealers are typically designed for low to mid-volume shrink wrapping and L-bar sealers are designed for mid to high-level shrink wrapping.

I-bar sealers utilize a single sealing bar. This single bar is brought down in order to cut the film. It usually takes about three passes to fully seal a product with film. Once the film is cut around the product, a heat gun is used to shrink the film.

L-bar sealers use an L shaped sealer bar that cuts the film around a package in one single pass. This makes packaging extremely fast. Once the package is sealed with film, it can be shrunk using a heat gun or can be shrunk even faster with a heat tunnel. Many L-bar sealers now come with a built-in heat tunnel.

There are two types of shrink film that can be used with shrink wrap machines. These are PVC and Polyolefin film. PVC film has been around a while and is traditionally used to package CDs and DVDs. PVC film is more brittle and emits more odor when shrunk. PVC cannot be used with food.

The newer, and now more popular, Polyolefin film is more stretchy than PVC film. It is safe to use with food and costs about the same as Polyolefin film. Polyolefin film emits little odor and is safe to shrink indoors. PVC film and Polyolefin can both be used with most shrink wrap machines.

If you previously thought shrink wrap machines were not a viable option for you, you should reconsider and look at the wide variety of shrink wrap available today.