Paper folding machines really find their place in copy centers, schools, non-profit organizations, churches and businesses. If you need to fold paper as large as 11″ x 17″, menus, brochures, pamphlets and other material, you are going to love the Intelli-Fold DE-172AF. This versatile paper folding machine is quickly becoming a customer favorite. There are many reasons for this. I have personally used this machine and this is my review.

The DE-172AF is especially an upgraded Intelli-Fold DE-202AF or an upgraded Dynafold DE-202AF. It is essentially the same machine as the DE-202AF except the DE-172AF features the addition of an extremely useful exit conveyor. This powered exit conveyor helps slow and control paper as it exits the machine. This process also helps to stack paper as it exits the machine. A powered exit conveyor is nice for any folding job, but is especially nice for invoices, bills, statements and other material that needs to be kept in order.

The Intelli-Fold DE-172AF (by Intelli-Zone) may be one of the best 11″ x 17″ paper folding machines around. It is certainly one of the most affordable. While it can easily handle larger 11″ x 17″ paper, it can also be used to handle paper as small as 3.5″ x 5″. This makes the DE-172AF extremely versatile. Acceptable paper thicknesses range from 16# up to 24#. This is about the thickness of a sheet of copy paper.

Setting up the DE-172AF is extremely easy. It uses a series of 2 folding plates to complete the job. Both plates need to be manually set prior to folding. Folds, based on the paper size, are clearly marked on the folding plates. While the plates are manually adjusted, they are really easy to handle. I can personally adjust the plates in less than a minute.

Unlike many folding machines in this price range, the DE-172AF does not require paper to be pre fanned prior to being placed in the machine. Simply make sure the paper is squared up and put it in the machine. Because the DE-172AF can hold up to 500 sheets of paper, it doesn’t require much babysitting. Paper feeding is extremely smooth, accurate and aligned.

Having used this myself, I can tell you that the folded edge of the paper is extremely crisp and professional. Paper doesn’t look like it was manually folded, rather, it looks like it has come right out of a printing press. A variable speed dial lets you easily slow down or speed things up.

Many people ask me about the build quality. This is understandable as a lot of “plastic” folding machines have a bad habit of easily breaking down. The DE-172AF features a high-end build. Much of this machine is made out of metal. Not saying all Chinese stuff is low quality, but I think the fact that the DE-172AF is not made in China really helps iron out the fine wrinkles and electronics that plague other machines.

The DE-172AF can create 6 of the most common folds used today. These folds include:

• Single (Half, V) Fold
• Letter Fold (C Fold)
• Z Fold (Accordion Fold)
• Double Parallel Fold
• Gate Fold
• Half Accordion Fold (Engineering Fold)

Because the folding plates are manually adjusted, it is also very easy to create custom folds on this machine. I personally like using this machine. As long as you aren’t folding heavy card stock, this machine is probably perfect for you. You can find the Intelli-Fold DE-172AF here and our entire selection of paper folding machines here.

Please feel free to contact one of our paper folding machine specialists at 1-800-658-8788 with any questions.

Paper folding machines are remarkable pieces of machinery. They have just one task….to fold paper. That almost sounds too simple. While folding machines do fold paper, they are efficient, meticulous, professional and accurate. They literally save you hours of time and untold amounts of money. One heck of a deal, not to mention a customer favorite, is the Intelli-Fold DE-102AF automatic paper folding machine. I recently had a chance to break it out of its box, set it up in our showroom and play around with it.

The DE-102AF is about the best paper folding machine you can buy for folding standard letter-size paper. It can be used to fold invoices, statements, brochures, pamphlets and more. While it really finds its stride with letter-size paper, it is also a great little machine for folding paper anywhere from 3.5″ x 5″ up to 8.5″ x 14″. As far as paper thickness is concerned, it can handle 16# up to 24#, which is about the thickness of copy paper.

What really impresses me about this machine is the build quality. The fold plates and the bulk majority of the components are made out of metal. The silicon rollers are designed to hold up with continued use and the electronics do a great job. It is easy to maintain, clean and takes just minutes to set up.

This is a video demo of the Intelli-Fold DE-102AF in use:

I can safely say that the Intelli-Fold DE-102AF (formerly known as the Dynafold DE-102AF) will impress you as long as you are aware of the machine’s capabilities. We also offer a great selection of other folding machines (found here) if you need something that handles thicker paper or larger sheet sizes.

You will find the DE-102AF used in churches, schools and many other businesses and organizations. It can be used create the most common folds used today such as letter folds, Z folds, half folds, gate folds and much more.  Feel free to call one of our specialists at 1-800-658-8788 with any questions.

The Martin Yale 1217A is a paper folding machine is very near and dear to me. I actually learned how to use a paper folding machine by practicing on a Martin Yale 1217A and a CV7 (aka 1501x). While the time has flown by quickly over the past few years, that was over 10 years ago. While there have been a few tweaks and modifications, the 1217A is pretty much the same machine it was a decade ago.

There are a lot of reasons the 1217A continues to be a popular machine. For one, it can handle sheet sizes ranging from 4” x 4” all the way up to 12″ x 18″. It also has the ability to handle paper thicknesses ranging from 16# up to 135#. This is just about as much range as you need in most paper folding machines.

Another benefit of the 1217A AutoFolder, especially years ago, is the inclusion of a powered exit conveyor. The conveyor is designed to lay down folded material and organize it. Sheets of paper, as the near the end of the conveyor, are neatly stacked. This is perfect if you are folding invoices, bank statements and other alphanumeric material.

The 1217A folding machine is big enough to handle low to medium-volume jobs, yet is compact enough to sit on most tabletops and desktops. I have to admit this video is now a few years old, but this video still does a good job demonstrating the Martin Yale 1217A in action:

Why should you consider the 1217A? For one, it has been around for years. This means Service Technicians, should the need arise, are very familiar with this machine. Parts and accessories are also readily available. There are also a lot of manuals, videos and other supportive material available online.

The only downside, which can be frustrating at times, is the fact that you have to pre-fan the paper prior to placing it in the feed tray. It isn’t too difficult, but I have been spoiled over the past few years with all the drop-in machines that require no special tweaking or fanning of the paper. You also have to adjust the retarder wheel on this machine to properly feed in paper, depending on the thickness.

You can find the Martin Yale 1217A AutoFolder paper folding machine here.

If you’re not certain this is the machine you need, I also highly recommend the following paper folding machines:

• Intelli-Fold DE-102AF
• Intelli-Fold DE-112AF
• Intelli-Fold DE-202AF
• Intelli-Fold DE-172AF

I hope this video and article has been helpful to you. Please do not hesitate to call us at 1-800-658-8788 with any questions. We are more than happy to help. You can find our entire selection of paper folding machines here.

If your business is making repeated cuts in excess of a few hundred sheets of paper at a time, throughout the day, you probably need what’s known as heavy-duty stack paper cutters. These are the stack paper cutters that practically run themselves. At ABC Office, we offer a wide variety of different models designed to cut and trim card stock, prints, cards, laminated material and much more.

Not every stack paper cutter can be categorized as heavy duty. While some of our manually operated stack paper cutters can cut a large volume of paper, they aren’t designed for repetitive cuts throughout the day. For something repetitive, you probably need something that is powered by something other than manual force. There are three types of stack paper cutters you may want to use for you heavy-duty operations:

• Manual Electric Stack Paper Cutters – These types of stack paper cutters, sometimes referred to as semi-automatic, usually have either an electric clamp, an electric cutting knife or both. The thing that makes these “manual” is that some element needs to be manually operated. This may be the clamp, the backstop or another component. Manual electric stack cutters are more affordable than automated or hydraulic machines, but they are also a little slower (depending on the job). A good example of a manual electric stack cutter is the Intelli-cut 550MS.
• Automatic Electric Stack Cutters – Automatic stack cutters are fully electric and typically include some sort of automated backstop, programmable memory features and much more. These cutters are designed for repeated cuts and multiple paper sizes throughout the day. Simply select the cut you want to create, push a button and let the machine do the rest. The Triumph 6550EP and Intelli-Cut 680EP are good examples of automatic electric stack paper cutters.
• Hydraulic Stack Paper Cutters – These are considered to be the toughest and heaviest-duty stack paper cutters available. Hydraulic stack cutters use hydraulic pressure to quickly and effortlessly cut through material. These types of paper cutters are typically fully automated, are programmable and are designed for repeated cuts without the need to “cool down.” A good example of a solid hydraulic stack paper cutter is the Triumph 721LT.

This is a video demo of the MBM Triumph 5551EP and 721LT hydraulic stack cutters:

These types of paper cutters are often found in paper manufacturing plants, in-plant printing shops and professional binderies. They are designed for continuous-duty cutting. While the size and capacity of the cutter may vary, the additions of electric motors or hydraulic pumps make these cutters extremely tough.

It has been asked which of these stack paper cutters is best. In my own personal experience, I would have to say that MBM Triumph and Intelli-Cut are probably the most popular. You can find our Triumph stack paper cutters here and our Intelli-Cut stack paper cutters here.

For additional information, or for answers to your questions, please feel free to contact one of our stack paper cutter experts by calling 1-800-658-8788. You can find our entire selection of stack paper cutters here.

If your business handles or deals with mailing bills, rebates, invoices, statements and other documents, you may want to consider using a pressure sealer like the Formax FD 2030 AutoSeal. This amazing pressure sealer is quick, fast and easy t operate. It can be used with 8 ½” x 11″ and 8 ½” x 14″ pressure seal forms and doesn’t require an envelope. A few months ago I got a chance to play around with the FD 2030 and we shot a video demo of it.

If you’re not familiar with pressure sealers, you’re probably not alone, however, you have probably received or handled mail sealed using a pressure sealer. Pressure sealers take special pressure seal paper and fold it shut. This special paper, from manufactures like Relyco, has tiny pressure activated pockets of glue along the seams. This glue is activated as it runs through the Formax FD 2030. The glue bursts and quickly seals the sheet of paper shut.

A pressure sealed form is tamper proof and can only be opened by tearing off perforated margins and opening perforated seams. Pressure seal paper is completely laser printer and copy machine compatible, and because no envelope is involved, pressure seal forms are actually less expensive to use / mail than traditional envelope-based mail.

The Formax AutoSeal FD 2030 operates at a whopping speed of 9,000 sheets per hour and is designed to fold and seal up to 75,000 pressure seal forms per month. Having handled this machine myself, I can tell you that the build quality is extremely high. Just about everything in it, including the shell, is made from metal. It is made in the USA.

This is a video demo of me using the Formax AutoSeal FD 2030 pressure sealer:

I cannot stress how easy this machine is to use. It takes less than a minute to set up and the end results look profession and accurate. The control panel doesn’t take a rocket scientist to operate and the feed tray is as easy to use as a copy machine.

You can find the Formax AutoSeal FD 2030 here and our entire selection of pressure sealers here. I understand that this may not answer all your questions, so please feel free to call us at 1-800-658-8788 with any questions.

It’s that time of the year again. People are buying office machines, supplies and equipment in droves. This includes binding machines, paper shredders, laminators, folding machines and much more. At ABC Office, we offer some of the best prices and best selection on office equipment online. As a token of our appreciation, we would like to extend a valuable coupon code that you can use to save an additional 5% off your order! This is good for up to $200 in savings.

For the month of September only, use coupon code SEPTBLOG05 for your 5% discount. This can be used on machines and supplies! You can browse our huge selection of office equipment by visiting us here.

This coupon code can be redeemed by placing this code in the Coupon / Gift Certificate Number section of our shopping cart. You may also redeem this coupon by mentioning it over the phone (800-658-8788) to one of our helpful Sales Representatives.

We appreciate your business and interest in our products. We have been in business for over 30 years and are able to provide you with the expertise and customer service you expect.

Some restrictions do apply.

As is the case with any I-bar or L-bar impulse sealer, they will eventually wear out. Normal wear includes cracking, corrosion, being dull and difficulty cutting film. The average impulse-sealing blade lasts about a year. Once your blade is caput, how do you go about changing it? This article will go into great detail on how to change your impulse-sealing blade.

These instructions are specifically for the Minipack Galileo, Galaxy, Synthesis, Junior, Vision, Media, RP-Series, FM-Series, FC-Series, EP-Series, Replay-Series and Modular-Series. While these tips are specifically for Minipack Galileo, most L-bar sealers operate in a similar manner. Be aware that sealing blade, sealing knife and sealing wire are often used interchangeably.

Minipack Impulse Sealing Blade Installation:

STEP 1 – Loosen the screws that hold the sealing blade in place. This involves a left clamp, center clamp and rear clamp. A brass piston, found in the left and rear clamps, will snap back from spring compression. This is normal. You can now remove the old sealing blade. Check for ware and replace if needed.

STEP 2 – Working from the back, insert the new sealing blade into the rear brass clamp piston. Do this until it cannot be inserted further. Be aware that the sealing blade must contact the bottom of the brass piston. It needs to make it past the set screw.

Using your left hand, press the blade about 6″ into seat. While holding the blade in place, push the clamp piston forward using an 8mm nut driver. The blade should move forward about ¾”. Release the clamp and continue to press the blade into the seat.

STEP 3 - You will now need to use your thumb to bend the blade, allowing it to fit inside the seat of the corner clamp. While holding the sealing blade wire in place, continue pressing the blade into the seat until it reaches the left front clamp.

STEP 4 – You will now need to completely loosen the left clamp assembly. Once loose, continue pressing the sealing blade into the seat. Cut the sealing blade approximately 7/8″ past the aluminum channel. Be careful not to cut the sealing blade too short as the retention screw will not be able to hold the blade. If the sealing blade is too long, it will pop out. The brass clamp must be 2mm from the aluminum channel. Re-assemble the left clamp and follow STEP 2.

STEP 5 – Using a soft object, such as wood, push down firmly on the center blade assembly and tighten the set screw. Be aware that improper set screw alignment can lead to the sealing blade popping out during operation.

STEP 6 - Push the rear clamp forward using an 8mm nut driver and tighten the set screw. Be aware that the brass piston needs to be 2mm away from the aluminum channel.

If for any reason you are having trouble changing the sealing blade, or you need a few additional tips, please feel free to call our Service Department at 1-800-658-8788 x129. You can find our entire selection of shrink wrap machines, supplies and accessories here.

If you’re in the market for a solid and reliable paper shredder, there has never been a better time than now. Formax, one of the top 5 best office paper shredder brands around, is offering free shipping on their ENTIRE line of paper shredders for the month of September. This will save you money for multiple reasons.

To begin with, the free shipping is a huge savings alone. Many of these high-end paper shredders have to ship via freight truck. With gas prices as high as they are, freight shipping isn’t exactly cheap. This should easily save you hundreds of dollars on each of our Formax paper shredders.

Another reason why this will save you money is because you are probably now more likely to buy a Formax paper shredder. Because Formax paper shredders are some of the best available, this means they will last you for years to come. As a result, you won’t be buying a new paper shredder every few months or every year, saving you even more money.

Having used Formax paper shredders for years myself, not to mention we use them here at ABC Office for our own paper shredding needs, I can attest to the fact that Formax paper shredders are solid. They feature excellent metal construction, hardened steel blades and solid electronics. You won’t be disappointed.

You can view our entire selection of Formax paper shredders here. Good luck and happy shopping!

If you work for the federal government, state government, local government or a branch of the military, you probably need a high-quality paper shredder that can be used to destroy sensitive documents and paper. At ABC Office we offer a wide range of government paper shredders that are NSA and DOD approved.

Having sold paper shredders to the government for over 30 years, we have a great idea as to which shredders you want or don’t want. We have come up with a list of our top 10 government paper shredders for 2011. These paper shredders have established themselves as industry leaders, customer favorites and reputable machines that should last for years.

While this top 10 list isn’t put out by the government, these are NSA / DOD approved shredders.

Top 10 Best NSA / DOD Approved Government Paper Shredders 2011 (Listed Alphabetically)

1. Dahle 20434 Level 6 Paper Shredder
2. Dahle 20634EC High Security Shredder
3. Dahle 20834 EC NSA Approved Shredder
4. Destroyit 2360 SMC Document Shredder
5. Destroyit 2604 SMC DOD Approved Shredder
6. Formax FD 8400HS Business Shredder
7. Formax FD 8500HS NSA Paper Shredder
8. HSM 125.2HS Particle Cut Shredder
9. HSM 411.2HS High Security Paper Shredder
10. HSM 225.2HS Level 6 Paper Shredder

You’ll notice that these shredders all feature a high security level 6. This is the highest security level you can get in a paper shredder. A security level 6 (SL6) is any shredder that uses a cross cut pattern that measures in at a 1mm x 5mm size or smaller. If you look at that on a ruler, you’ll realize just how small this is.

A security level 6 paper shredder is small enough to be used to shred extremely sensitive, top secret and confidential documents. You can find our entire selection of high-security paper shredders here.

We are able to provide GSA pricing on our entire line of government / high-security paper shredders. If you need GSA pricing, please call one of our paper shredder specialists at 1-800-658-8788.

Impulse sealing blades are the most common method used to seal and cut shrink film and other plastic materials. In relation to shrink-wrap machines, and even many heat sealers, the blade will eventually begin to dull and efficiency will begin to wane. Bad sealing blade symptoms include cracked blades, built-up blade corrosion and the inability to cut film. Here are a few tips that will help you to extend the life of your impulse sealer.

Impulse Sealer Troubleshooting Tips

• If you are having issues with your bags or film not properly sealing, try lowering the seal time. The less time that is put on a seal, the stronger it should become.
• I recommend not exceeding 1.8 seconds when sealing. That should provide the beset seal. A longer sealing time will only compromise the seal and decrease its strength.
• I recommend cleaning the sealing blade on your shrink wrap machine or heat sealer with either a cleaning gel or with silicon spray. This can potentially extend the life of the sealing blade by up to 12 months. Contact our Service Department at 1-800-658-8788 x129 for shrink-wrap machine and heat sealer cleaning supplies.

While we do offer replacement kits, wire kits and other accessories for AIE shrink wrap machines and heat sealers (found here), some of our replacement shrink wrap wire, Teflon tape, pads and other parts need to be ordered directly from our Service Department at 1-800-658-8788 x129. You can also reach our Service Department by filling out this form.

Many of the replacement kits are listed directly on the product’s page under “Options and Accessories.” We offer machines from Minpack, AIE, Traco, Rochman, Aline, GHL and others. You can find our I-bar shrink wrap machines here, shrink wrap systems here, L-bar sealers here and heat sealers here.