High security paper shredders, while not for everyone, serve a very valuable purpose when it comes to National Security and the destruction of extremely sensitive documents. One model, which qualifies as a Security Level 6, is the Dahle CleanTEC 41334 high security shredder (found here). This is my review.

A Security Level 6 is the highest security level that a paper shredder can be given. This means it can be used to shred top secret information and some of the most sensitive documents. In the case of the Dahle CleanTEC 41334, it can shred a sheet of paper into 1mm by 4.7mm particles. This means that it will turn a single sheet of 8 ½” x 11″ paper into 15,500 particles. Try reassembling that. It is impossible. That is why these shredders are so popular with the DOD (Department of Defense), NSA (National Security Agency), federal government, military and more.

This shredder features a large 23 gallon shred bin, which easily pulls out (via a cabinet door) for easy emptying. The wide 10 ¼” throat width is wide enough to handle most paper you will find in an office. The Dahle CleanTEC 41334 has an 8 sheet maximum shredding capacity. While 8 sheets may not seem like much, keep in mind how small the paper is being cut. Higher security level shredders always have smaller sheet capacities.

The Model 41334 carries the name CleanTEC because of its special filtration technology. All paper shredders generate dust. The higher the security level, and the more cuts made, the more paper dust that is created. This dust can easily become airborn and can cause surface dust on furniture and can agitate people’s respiratory system. The CleanTEC filter, located in the back of the shredder, filters and traps 98% of that dust. This provides a much cleaner and healthier work environment.

While the  CleanTEC technology is very impressive, this German-made paper shredder features a lot more perks that are rarely found in comparable machines. The CleanTEC 41334 implements a full safety package. One of its most impressive features is its voice recognition capabilities. While you can turn this shredder off by pressing an emergency shutoff switch (found on the back of the shredder) or by tapping the cover of the machine, it will also turn off by simply saying “stop.” The mouth of the paper shredder also contains sensors that can detect the presence of fingers, which will also turn the shredder off.

While every shredder has a maximum shredding capacity, nobody ever actually counts out the sheets to make sure they aren’t going over capacity. The 41334 has ESP (Electronic Sensing Protection) that will gauge how much stress the motor is under and will visually let you know if you are reaching the maximum capacity. If for any reason the capacity is breached, the shredder will turn off to prevent damage, allowing the operator to adjust the amount. Green means the shredder is fine, yellow means it is getting close to maximum capacity and red means you have reached the maximum capacity.

Cross cut paper shredders have very complicated cutting blades and high security shredders, like the Dahle 41334 has an extremely intricate design. Because so many cuts are being created, and so much friction is involved, a lot of heat is generated. The 41334 has an automatic oiler, called the Dahle Evenflow, which will keep all necessary parts lubricated. This dramatically extends the life of the shredder and ensures proper shredder maintenance. I especially like this feature because few shredders offer auto oilers, requiring the shredder to be oiled manually.

The final feature that really sets the Dahle CleanTEC 41334 apart from the competition is the SmarPower energy management system. Paper shredders use electricity, and paper shredders that are inactive typically still draw electricity, often referred to as a vampire draw. The CleanTEC 41334 will put the shredder in standby mode after 10 minutes and will completely shut the shredder down after 20 minutes of inactivity. This saves energy and cuts down on electricity costs.

Overall this is a solid paper shredding machine. It is packed with features, touts precision German engineering and Dahle has a great reputation with our customers. You can find the Dahle CleanTEC 41334 high security shredder here and our entire selection of high security paper shredders here.

Please feel free to contact one of our experts at 1-800-658-8788 with any high security shredding questions.

Folding mail by and, inserting it into envelopes and licking the envelopes shut is a long and tedious process. It creates paper cuts, folds are typically misaligned and the glue from the envelopes tastes pretty bad. One affordable way to eliminate the need for manual envelope folding and inserting is to use an automated machine like the Formax FD 6150 folder inserter.

Formax is one of the best-known manufacturers of envelope folding and inserting machines. They manufacture machines that can handle anywhere from one sheet up to six or more sheets of paper at a time. The process is impressive to watch and the technology is extremely reliable. The Formax FD 6150 replaces the popular FD 6100.

The Formax FD 6150 is the entry-level folding and inserting machine from Formax. While it is entry level, it is still packed with features and is extremely fast. It is best suited for small to medium-size businesses and can be used to fold and insert approximately 5,000 pieces per month. This is ideal for mailing invoices, checks, newsletters and more.

The folding and inserting process on this machine takes just seconds. The FD 6150 has 2 paper trays and one insert / BRE tray. Each of the paper trays holds 325 sheets of paper. These trays allow for a combination of different multi sheet folding and inserting configurations. The insert / BRE tray is designed for business reply envelopes or small slips of paper that need to be included in the letter.

The FD 6150 essentially pulls a sheet of paper from the trays, folds it, inserts it into an envelope and even seals the envelope shut. Once an envelope comes out the exit tray, it is ready to take a stamp and be mailed. A daily mail mode will even allow for inserting stapled or unstapled sets of paper (up to 5 sheets) for mailing purposes.

This envelope inserting machine can create a C fold (letter), a V fold (half) and a double parallel fold. It can also be set up with 9 different programmable jobs for easy setup. Simply select the job you need (which includes paper size, envelope type and fold style) and start the machine. The control panel itself is very easy to navigate and set up.

The Formax FD 6150 utilizes a clamshell design. By pressing a cover release lever, the entire top half of the machine opens up. This makes cleaning and maintenance extremely easy. In the rare event of a jam, paper is extremely easy to access and clear out.

You can find the Formax FD 6150 envelope inserting machine here and our entire selection of folding and inserting machines here. Please feel free to contact one of our folding machine experts at 1-800-658-8788 with any questions.

If you’re shopping around for a stack paper cutter, you may have seen the term “cutting sticks.” Cutting sticks are long rectangular-shaped pieces of plastic that vary in length depending on the size of the paper cutter. Cutting sticks are a critical part of a stack cutter, but what are they and what do they do?

Cutting sticks, made of plastic, have a total of 4 sides. These sticks are usually placed in a grove on the bottom of the cutter, where the cutting blade of the stack cutter will ultimately rest after making a cut. These sticks are made from a durable plastic material and are designed to last for several hundred to several thousand cuts before being rotated or replaced.

The cutting stick plays a critical part in the cutting process and even help assist in producing clean cuts. Because the cutting blade rests in the cutting stick, the cut is properly completed, allowing the blade to make it through every sheet, even the last bottom sheet. Without a cutting stick, the blade would have nothing to rest on and the cut couldn’t be completed.

Cutting sticks are designed to help prolong the life of the paper cutter blade and will not dull it. The plastic used in a cutting stick is designed to take the force of the blade’s impact while still maintaining structural integrity. Thanks to this durable design, cutting blades can last through hundreds and even thousands of cuts before being replaced or rotated.

Signs of a worn cutting stick usually results in the last 1 to 2 pages not being cut all the way through. Before replacing your cutting stick, you should be aware that each stick can be rotated a total of 8 times. Because the blade does not rest directly in the center of a cutting stick, each side can be used 2 times. Simply flip the cutting stick a full 180 degrees to use the same side again. Because the cutting stick is square, it can be turned a total of 4 times.

Ultimately, after all sides of the cutting stick have been used and worn, they will need to be replaced. Luckily cutting sticks aren’t expensive and are usually sold in bulk quantities. You can find our entire selection of stack paper cutter cutting sticks here. We sell cutting sticks for Dahle, MBM Triumph, Intelli-Cut, Tamerica, Martin Yale and Standard brand stack cutters.

If you still have questions about cuttings sticks, how to use them or where to find them, please feel free to contact one of our paper cutter experts at 1-800-658-8788. You can find our entire selection of stack paper cutters here.

Martin Yale has a rich history in being one of the oldest and most well-known manufacturers of paper folding machines. Popular classics include the 1501X (CV7), 1217A and the 959. A new machine from Martin Yale, which actually replaces the very popular Model 959, is the Mark VII paper folding machine. This is an overview of the new machine.

This machine is not your standard paper folding machine for folding onesies and twosies. This is a high-end paper folding machine designed for industrial or daily folding applications. It can easy keep up with most copy center and business folding needs. The motor runs at a whopping 35,000 sheets per minute. This is fast enough to quickly burn through the 350 sheet hopper capacity.

Because it is a bottom-feeding folding machine, it is very easy to load more paper into the hopper and keep the machine running. Unlike the older 1501x and 1217A, the Mark VII has a superior feeding system that does not require the paper to be pre-fanned. An adjustable speed control makes it easy to fine-tune this machine to handle a variety of paper sizes and thicknesses.

Speaking of size and thickness, the Mark VII can handle paper sizes ranging from 3 ½” x 4 ¼” up to 14″ x 20″. I have used a lot of folding machines over the past decade and I can tell you that this paper range is very impressive. This makes it easy to fold brochures, menus, letters, invoices and much more. It can also handle a wide range of paper thicknesses. It specifically can handle 16-lb. bond up to 80-lb. index.It can also be outfitted with perforating and scoring wheels for additional projects.

Most friction-feed folding machines will choke on coated paper. This is because the slick surface slides on the silicon and rubber rollers, resulting in a jam. The Mark VII is actually designed to be able to handle coated paper. It can also handle laser paper, copy paper and even thicker card stock. It is very versatile when it comes to paper handling.

The Mark VII is made out of heavy-duty metal components. Even the exit tray, paper guides and folding plates are made out of metal. The build quality is extremely good.

This folding machine can create all the folds that you need most. This includes the:

• Letter Fold
• Z-Fold
• Double-Parallel Fold
• Half Fold
• Church Fold
• Engineering Fold

These are the six most common folds used today. Because the folding plates are manually adjusted, it is easy to create custom variations of all these folds. The folds themselves are clearly marked on the folding plates, making folds easy to set and adjust. While this isn’t a programmable folding machine, it does include a digital paper counter, which is pretty nice.

Overall this is a solid paper folding machine and is perfect for industrial or commercial folding applications. It weighs just over 100 pounds, so it isn’t going to fit on all tables, but will work on most desks and countertops. It is a robust machine designed for continuous operation.

You can find the Martin Yale Mark VII folding machine here and our entire selection of paper folding machines here. This is a fairly new machine, so if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-658-8788. We are more than happy to help point you in the right direction.

Many people ask me, “Do you offer an economical alternative to your high-end shrink wrap machines?” This is an understandable question. Not everyone wants or needs to spend thousands of dollars on a high-end shrink wrap system. One economical alternative is to use an I-bar sealer, like those manufactured by Traco.

Traco is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of shrink wrap machines and shrink wrap film. Their 60,000 square foot facility has been cranking out packaging equipment for years. Having been in business for 27 years, Traco has developed a stalwartly reputation. We sell a lot of Traco supplies and equipment and I can tell you from personal experience that their products really are that good.

Traco I-bar sealers use the exact same shrink wrap bags and centerfold rolls of shrink film that the high end machines do. They just use a slightly different method to complete the process. To date, their I-bar sealers range in length from 13″ up to 40″. This means you can use them to package something as small as a CD or as large as a box. To date, over 150,000 SuperSealers have been sold.

Comparable to the AIE I-bar sealers, the Traco SuperSealers are available in two different designs. You have the standard SuperSealer and the deluxe SuperSealer. So what are the differences between the two? I’ll explain.

Two Types of SuperSealers

• Standard SuperSealer – The Standard SuperSealer (found here) is extremely similar to the Deluxe model. It includes a roller base for the centerfold roll of film and a film separator. The spring-loaded sealing arm can be pulled down, activating the cutting wire in the “I Bar.” This cuts the film. An included HotShot heat gun can then be used to shrink the film. The entire process takes just minutes, and if sealing a small item, just seconds.
• Portable Deluxe SuperSealer – The Deluxe SuperSealer (found here) is almost exactly the same as the standard version, but also includes a light that lets you know when the sealing process is occurring. When the light is off, the sealing is done. Some people enjoy having this visual indicator, although it is not a necessity. The Deluxe version also includes a replacement parts kit and a 50’ starter roll of film.

This is a video demo of the Traco SuperSealer in use:

Both versions of the SuperSealer produce high-quality results. Products packaged on a SuperSealer have the same professional appearance as those packaged on high-end shrink wrap systems and L-Bar sealers.

Whether you are packaging CDs and DVDs, or simply want to provide an attractive / protective sleeve for your art or photo prints, the SuperSealer shrink wrap machine has multiple uses. The best think is that SuperSealer shrink wrap machines cost hundreds, rather than thousands of dollars. The only limitation of the SuperSEaler, versus a high-end machine, is the speed. I-bar sealers, like the SuperSealer, are best used for light to medium-volume packaging.

You can find our entire selection of shrink wrap machines here and shrink wrap film here. Please feel free to call us at 1-800-658-8788 to speak with one of our shrink wrap / packaging specialists.

Document control is critical when it comes to filing away, tracking and logging invoices, purchase orders, tickets, contracts and other documents. One great way to keep tabs on documents is by using a numbering machine. While there are several great manual numbering machines out there, the Widmer N-3 electronic numbering machine (found here) will dramatically speed up numbering operations. This is my review.

Widmer is very well known for manufacturing some of the best numbering machines and date stamps out there. They all look very similar, one from another, and all feature high-end motors, stamping crash heads, electronics and more. Simply put, these American-made machines are designed to last for years.

The N-3 provides a high-quality stamp that is clear, elegant, accurate and very easy to use. Because the amount of pressure being applied is the same every time, numbering by the N-3 is far superior to manual numbering machines and other comparable electronic numbering machines.

This is a sample of some actual numbering stamps created by the N-3:

There is no special training required to use this machine. Inserting paper will activate a trigger for high-speed stamping. Because no button needs to be pushed, it is easy to grab documents with both hands and begin feeding them into the machine. An open throat design makes it easy to move documents from left to right, making alignment easy.

The micro trigger can be adjusted to set the depth of the stamp. This makes it easy to accommodate the N-3 to handle the stamping of letter size 8 ½” x 11″ documents or items as small as tickets. Stamping pressure can also be adjusted to accommodate use with carbonized forms and sensitive carbonless forms.

The base model N-3, unmodified, has a total of 6 stamping wheels that operate in consecutive succession. This means every time it stamps, the number advances by one. It can also be purchased with a duplicate, triplicate or quadruplicate action. Call 1-800-658-8788 to request a quote on one of these non-stock options. The N-3 can also be built with a repeat switch and guide platforms for special print locations.

You will find the Widmer N-3 in accounting departments, contract departments, warehouses and much more. We sell a lot of these and we never have issues with them. They are solid little machines and only measure in at 7 ¼” H x 4 ¾” W x 10″ D. At just 18 pounds, this electronic numbering machine can be used on just about any desk, countertop or surface.

The N3 is available in aversion called the ND-3 (found here), which not only numbers documents, but also includes a date stamp as well.

You can find the Widemer N-3 electronic numbering machine here and our entire selection of numbering machines here. Please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-658-8788 with any questions.

If you have been waiting around for a great deal on a roll laminator, your time has arrived. The Banner American Easy-Lam School Budget roll laminator (found here) is on sale for a limited time for only $729. This laminator retails for $824, which means your saving almost $100. This deal is for a limited time only.

While it is possible to find roll laminators for under $800, you will not find a 27″ roll laminator for that good a deal. The Easy-Lam School Budget is the perfect 27″ roll laminators for schools. It stays within budget, uses film from 27″ or smaller and can be used by schools to laminate posters, banners, maps, signs and much more.

The Easy-Lam School Budget can be used with both 1.5 and 3 mil film, which is extremely affordable. You can find our 27″ wide roll laminating film here.

I have personally used this laminator and can vouch for the fact that it is easy to set up and use. It isn’t the fastest roll laminator out there, at 3.5 feet per minute, but it will easily keep up with most school laminating needs.

You can find our entire selection of roll laminators here. Please call us at 1-800-658-8788 with any questions. Hurry! This deal won’t last long.

If you need to laminate posters, signs and banners that fall within a 27″ width, you probably need to use a thermal roll laminator like the Banner Easy-Lam 27″. This laminator has been around for well over a decade and has a good track record with customers. I have used this laminator several times myself and this is my review.

While the American-Made Banner Easy-Lam roll laminator has undergone a few aesthetic changes over the years, it still remains true to what the laminator was originally designed for, an affordable “budget” laminator for schools, copy shops and other businesses. This laminator has an effective laminating width of 27″, which is one of the most popular sizes used today.

Made in the USA, the overall build quality is exceptional. It features higher-than-normal quality electronic components, which includes the motor, switches and wiring. This becomes evident when removing the side protective shell. This laminator also features a durable metal frame as well as a metal shelf, metal mandrels and much more. This is far better than your typical “foreign-made” machines. It even comes with 2 free rolls of 25″ x 100’ 1.5mil film, which is a great deal.

The Banner Easy-Lam is very easy to set up. A toggle switch lets you adjust the laminator between 1.5 mil (0.0015″ gauge) and 3 mil (0.003″ gauge) film. It also features a built-in LED temperature readout that keeps the operator in the know. There really isn’t much “fine tuning” involved in getting this laminator up and running. It only takes about 15 minutes to get up to full operational temperature.

As mentioned earlier, the Easy-Lam is designed for use with 27″ wide film that has a 1″ diameter core. While it can be used with 27″ film, it can also use 25″, 12″ and other smaller width film. Loading the film, unlike many roll laminators is easy. Simply place a mandrel through the top roll, one through the bottom roll, and insert the mandrels back into the machine. The film can then be wound around the heat shoes and tension bars.

While thermal roll laminators can get blazingly hot, the Banner Easy-Lam is designed with safety in mind and even includes an attached safety shield, which keeps the hottest parts covered. While it does still get hot, it is far safer to use than many comparable machines.

The laminator itself measures in at 20″(50.8cm) L x 35″(88.9cm) W x 16″ (40.6cm) H and weighs 68 pounds unboxed. While it isn’t going to win any races, it still operates at a reasonably fast speed of 4.5 feet per minute. It can be plugged into a standard 120volt (60Hz) outlet and draws 1800 watts at its peak. A 200-volt version, however, is available for the same price.

This is a video demo of the Banner Easy-Lam 27″ roll laminator:

What can I say? The Banner Easy-Lam 27″ roll laminator (found here) is a solid machine and I personally recommend it for light to medium-volume use. A slightly upgraded version, known as the Banner Easy-Lam II 27″ (found here) is also available. It is great for schools, copy shops and any business that needs to laminate signs, banners, posters or even several small things at the same time like business cards, menus, letter-size paper and more.

You can find our entire selection of thermal roll laminators here. Please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-658-8788 with any questions. Have a great day!

If you run an information center, a convenience store, work in a university or run a business or organization that sells or distributes brochures, you’re probably looking for a durable, affordable and professional brochure holder. We offer a great selection of multi-pocket brochure holders (found here). This includes plastic, acrylic, metal and wood brochure holders. So which should you use? Here are a few models that have proven to be best sellers over the years.

I would like to start off by saying there are several types of brochure holders. While I am going to list of 5 bestsellers, we offer literally dozens of other models that are just as solid and well priced. Keep in mind that brochure holders come in desktop, floor and  wall-mounted configurations and are made from a wide variety of materials. Some brochure holders are multi-purpose, capable of holding magazines and other literature as well. I am going to focus on holders that are designed specifically for brochures only.

Top 7 Best Brochure Holders

1. Safco 5673CL Clear2c 8 Pocket Brochure Holder
2. Wooden Mallet LT-8 8 Pocket Oak Brochure Holder
3. Safco 5793 Expose 10 Pocket Wall-Mounted Brochure Holder
4. Wooden Mallet BR24-4 Wall-Mounted 4 Pocket Brochure Holder
5. Safco 5671CL Clear2c 12 Pocket Plastic Brochure Rack
6. Model 30-6CD 6 Tier Brochure Holder
7. Model 18-5CD 5 Tier Countertop Brochure Holder

These models all look great, have proven themselves to be durable and are all available at a great price. These can be used to hold and display brochures, pamphlets and other similarly-sized material. These come from popular brands such as Safco, Wooden Mallet and others. As previously mentioned, we also offer a great selection of brochure holder / magazine rack combination displays.

You can find our entire selection of brochure holders and racks here. Call us at 1-800-658-8788 with any questions.

If you have a wire binding punch, lack a wire closer on your binding machine or simply want to speed up binding operations, you may wonder if you can manually close twin loop wire by hand. It is a question I get from customers from time to time. I have also had customers ask if they can reuse the wire. I will answer these questions and more in this article.

Having personally tried to close wire using my hand. Can it be done? Yes. Does it look good? No…absolutely not. The problem is that a wire closer, used with most wire binding machines, closes all the rings of wire at the same time, providing a nice and even look. Closing each individual loop (32 loops with 3:1 pitch and 21 loops with 2:1 pitch) results in each loop being closed a little more or a little less than the next or previous loop. To put it simple, it looks horrible.

So can you open wire and reuse it? Unfortunately this is not a possibility either. Having tried this myself, I can vouch for the fact that it is impossible. While I have seen some wire binding machines that include a wire opener, that actually does an OK job, it still never looks as good as a new wire binding element. The problem is that opening the wire causes kinks, crimps and gets fatigue spots in the wire that never look right, even when the wire is re-closed. It is also extremely hard to remove wire from a wire bound book by hand. It can easily rip and damage the document in the process.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but twin loop wire binding is not forgiving. If you need to be able to reuse or reopen a binding element, I recommend you consider using a comb binding machine. Coil binding, while it can be re-used, is easy to remove if you need to add or remove a page.

You can find our entire selection of wire binding machines here, wire binding supplies here and book binding machines here.