Do you need a durable paper folding machine that can be used on your desk for mailing letters, folding brochures and other jobs? One model you may want to look at is the Formax FD 312 paper folding machine. I have used this folding machine and this is my review.

Formax is a leading manufacturer of paper folding machines and paper folder inserters. They also manufacture a wide selection of paper shredders, bursters and other paper handling equipment.

The Formax FD 312 is compact, simple and extremely easy to use. It is about the size of a desktop printer (exact dimensions are 11.6″ L x 14″ W x 14.5″ H). It uses two folding plates to fold paper. These folding plates are manually adjusted. Setup time shouldn’t take more than a few minutes. Once the folding plates are set, the rest is quick and easy.

The FD 312 is designed for light to medium volume use. While not ideal for high-volume folding jobs, it is a solid machine. The feed tray can hold up to 200 sheets of paper and it is designed to fold standard 20# paper. It cannot be used to fold card stock. It can, however, be used to fold 11 and 14-inch long paper.

You can use the Formax FD 312 to create letter folds (C fold), half folds (V fold) and accordion folds (Z fold). The folding plates are customizable, so you can use this to create your own unique folds.

The control panel is simple. There are no adjustments or LCD screens to look at. It has a green “go” button and a “red” stop button. It really is a simple “no-nonsense” folding machine.

This machine is ideal for use in schools, churches, copy centers and other businesses that need to fold brochures, letters and other material. The construction is exceptional, so you shouldn’t experience any quirks or issues with it.

I personally like this folding machine and recommend it. Keep in mind, however, that it is not designed for heavy-volume usage.

You can find the Formax FD 312 paper folding machine here. You can find our entire selection of paper folding machines here.

Still have questions about the Formax FD 312? Call us up at 1-800-658-8788 and speak with one of our paper folding machine specialists.

If you are a business, a copy center or an organization that folds paper on a daily basis, you should really be using a paper folding machine. If you don’t have one, or are in the process of looking, you should take a close look at the MBM 207M paper folding machine. We have one of these on our showroom floor and I have been able to use it on several occasions. This is my review.

MBM, as a manufacturer, is synonymous with high quality. Their product line, ranging from paper shredders to paper cutters, are extremely reliable. Their folding machines follow with this tradition.

The 207M is MBM’s mid to high-volume folding machine. It is the successor to the extremely popular 206M. It is hard to believe that this folding machine is a manual setup. I can set up a fold on this machine faster than most can do on an automatic folding machine.

The folding plates (total of 2) have to be manually set. Unlike many comparable folding machines, this takes just seconds. Each folding plate has sliding adjustment. Simply pinch the adjustment bracket and slide the plate to the fold you want. It’s that simple. Fold types are clearly labeled on the folding plates.

While this is a manual setup folding machine, the 207M incorporates several computerized functions. Such functions include a clear LED counter (4 digit) and the capability to do batch folding. It is both UL and C UL approved.

The 207M features all-metal construction. You can tell that this machine is heavy duty when you try to move it. Weighing in at 72 pounds shipped, this machine is solid. It can still be used on most desks and tables.

Able to handle paper from 12# to 80# thick, the 207M can be used to create common folds such as a letter fold (C Fold), an accordion fold (Z Fold) and a single fold. It can also be used to create cross folds, including the French fold. The folding plates can be set up to create custom folds as well.

The exit tray uses a conveyor to keep paper properly lined up. This is a huge plus if you are folding invoices, bills and other material that needs to be kept in numerical or alphabetical order.

Overall, I have to say that the MBM 207M paper folding machine ranks up in my top 5 favorite paper folding machines. It really is that good.

You can find the MBM 207M paper folding machine here. You can find our entire selection of paper folding machines here.

If you are an office, a copy center or a business that needs a low-budget folding machine, you have probably found that there are a lot models to choose from. One paper folding machine that has been around for some time, and you may want to consider, is the Martin Yale 1501X Autofolder paper folding machine. I have used this machine for years now and this is my review.

To begin with, a lot of people get confused with regards to the model. Is it the 1501X or the CV7? Well, it goes by both models and they are the same machine. When I first started working for ABC Office (10 years ago), it was called the 1501X, then Martin Yale called it the CV7. It seems that Martin Yale is now calling it the 1501X again. It’s all a little confusing.

The 1501X is one of the original folding plate paper folding machines. It has been around for years, and has gone through a few design changes, but continues to be one of the most popular budget folding machines.

It uses a total of 2 folding plates. One is located on the front and the other is located on the back of the machine. These folding plates are adjusted to create the various folds. The 1501X can create a letter fold (c fold), an accordion fold (z fold), a single fold (double fold) and many more. Because the folding plates are manually adjusted, it is very easy to create custom folds.

The 1501X has a feed tray that is capable of holding up to 150 sheets of paper. Once the fold plates are set, and the paper has been inserted, simply hit the “go” button and let the machine do the rest. The 1501X (CV7) is a fast little folder. It is extremely compact, yet still features a lot of metal components not found in comparable models.

We have always used the 1501X on our showroom counter, but it is light enough to use on a table or desk. Moving the 1501X around isn’t too hard. I have picked it up and moved it myself without a problem. It weighs 33 pounds.

While the Martin Yale 1501X cannot be used with glossy paper, it handles standard copy paper without a problem. A feed table bypass makes it possible to manually feed and fold up to three stapled sheets of paper.

One thing the 1501X includes, that you don’t see in many folding machines, is a copper grounding cable that helps channel and ground out static electricity. This is designed to help cut down on paper jams.

While this folding machine is very simple, it is extremely easy to use and very affordable. I have used this machine for years and consider it to be ideal for low to medium-volume folding.

You can find the Martin Yale 1501X (CV7) Autofolder paper folding machine here. You can find our entire selection of paper folding machines here.

Are you searching for a compact, simple and easy-to-use paper folding machine? One model you may have stumbled across is the Martin Yale 1601 AutoFolder paper folding machine. Is it the right machine for you? I have used this folding machine and this is my review.

Paper folding machines are invaluable to have around when folding letters, brochures, pamphlets and other material. Martin Yale has been manufacturing folding machines and makes some of the best known models available today.

The Martin Yale 1601 Ease-Of-Use AutoFolder is a compact folding machine designed for low to medium-volume jobs. It is designed to be used with paper up to 8 ½ x 14 in size and can be used to create letter folds (C Fold), accordion folds (Z Fold), half fold, double parallel fold and a right angle fold (French Fold).

The folding trays on the 1601 AutoFolder are very easy to set up, taking just seconds. The folds are clearly marked on the tray. Simply pull out one tray, adjust it, put it back in and repeat with the second tray.

The 1601 AutoFolder has a built-in jam detection system that shuts the machine off in the event of a jam. Why is this nice? Folding machines that don’t utilize this technology will continue to run, even with the jam in place. If you aren’t around, this can potentially ruin a folding machine’s motor or cause other damage.

One really nice feature is the multi-sheet bypass slot. This slot allows you to fold up to 5 stapled sheets of paper at a time. Simply gather the paper together and manually feed it into the slot.

This folding machine is one of the most affordable available with a conveyor exit table. Conveyor exit tables keep folded paper in order. This is especially nice when folding documents that are numerically or alphabetically in order. This is a huge improvement over the exit bin that other folding machines use.

The Martin Yale 1601 AutoFolder is made in the USA, which is a rarity now days. The build quality seems to be nice and the design is compact enough to sit on just about any table or desk.

Overall I consider the 1601 to be a great folding machine for low to medium-volume use. It can be used every day and shouldn’t cause any issues.

You can find the Martin Yale 1601 AutoFolder paper folding machine here. You can find our entire selection of paper folding machines here.

Do you send out letters on a daily basis and need to speed things up? You may want to consider getting a desktop folding machine. One model you may want to consider is the Martin Yale P6200 desktop letter folding machine. This is my review.

Many businesses, and employees, have the need to letter fold documents. This may involve mailing invoices, letters, bills and much more. Many people manually fold this material. Paper that has been folded on a letter folding machine looks more professional and will save hours of time.

The P6200 is a letter folding machine designed to be placed on a desk. It only weighs nine pounds, so it can easily be moved around. It can be used to fold 1 to 3 sheets of paper at a time. Once folded, this paper can then be easily placed in an envelope.

The Martin Yale P6200 designed to create a letter fold, sometimes referred to as a C fold. This is the only type of fold that the P6200 does, however, 90+ percent of the people who fold paper only require that type of fold. Martin Yale does make another desktop letter folding machine called the P6400 (found here) that will create a letter and a single fold.

Most people that buy the P6200 realize that it is designed to create only a letter fold. If you are folding invoices, bills and letters for mailing purposes, this is the only type of fold you will ever need.

While not designed for high-volume folding, the P6200 is definitely more than adequate for most desktop letter folding jobs. The convenience and lack of paper cutters is worth the investment alone.

I have taken one of these folding machines out of the box, set it up and used it. It is very easy to use, requires no setup and gets the job done quickly. The results look professional and are perfect for placing in envelopes. I can definitely appreciate the benefits of using the P6200 over manually folding paper.

You can find the Martin Yale P6200 desktop letter folding machine here. You can find our entire selection of paper folding machines here.

Folding paper is a critical part of many business’ operations. It is used for mailers, brochures, pamphlets and much more. Finding the right machine is a difficult process. One model you may have looked at is the Martin Yale 1217A paper folding machine. I have had the opportunity to use this machine and this is my review.

Martin Yale has been making paper folding machines for years. Machines like the 959, the CV7 (1501X) and the 1217A AutoFolder have been around for well over a decade. Little has changed with these machines. One of the reasons few changes have accompanied these folding machines over the years is because Martin Yale has determined that these machines have hit the mark.

The 1217A AutoFolder  is certainly a time proven machine. Even 10 years ago, when I started working for ABC Office, we had a 1217A on our showroom floor. Back then few automatic folding machines existed and almost everything involved manually adjusting folding plates.

The 1217A has a total of two folding plates. As the paper enters the machine, it bounces off one plate, creating the first fold, and then bounces of the second plate, creating the second fold. The folding plates on the 1217A are very easy to set up. Common folds are clearly marked on the plates for adjustment purposes.

The 1217A can easily create letter folds, zig-zag folds, single folds and much more. Because the folding plates are adjustable, custom folds can be easily done. It may take a little trial and error, but once your custom fold has been established, you can either write the settings down on paper or mark the folding plate with a marker.

The 1217A is a basic paper folding machine designed for medium-volume jobs. There isn’t much to it, which can be a good thing. I don’t hear about many issues with the 1217A.

A few features I would like to see in the 1217A include a paper counter and batch counting capabilities. While not critical for everyone, many people have batch folding needs.

I would also like Martin Yale to add more friction wheels to the paper feed tray. Right now the 1217A only has one and it’s fairly narrow. Many modern folding machines feature three friction wheels, which helps better pull paper into the machine.

Some big benefits include the ability to fold up to 90# paper. Another beneficial feature of the 1217A is the ability to fold paper as large as 11 ¾ x 18-inches big.

Overall I would consider the Martin Yale 1217A to be a solid machine. It has certainly been time tested and many people really like it. Remember that it is primarily designed for medium-volume use.

You can find the Martin Yale 1217A paper folding machine here. You can find our entire selection of friction paper folding machines here.

Are you in need of a machine for the occasional paper folding project? One model you may want to consider looking at is the Martin Yale Premier RapidFold P7200 paper folding machine. I have had a chance to use this folding machine and this is my review.

The RapidFold 7200 is a compact paper folding machine that is designed to be used on a table or desk. It is designed for light-volume use. It can be used to create letter folds, single folds and several custom folds and is capable of handling paper up to 28# thick.

Assembly is very easy. Once pulled out of the box, you will need to insert the folding plates and assemble the exit tray, but this doesn’t take long to do. I had the paper folder out of the box and running in about 20 minutes.

The RapidFold 7200 is set up by adjusting two folding plates. Adjusting the plates isn’t hard to do. Simply loosen the folding plate and slide them to the appropriate fold. These folds are clearly marked on the plate.

As previously mentioned, the P7200 is designed for light-volume use.  This means it can be used every day, but not all day long. I wouldn’t fold more than a few hundred sheets a day. If you need to do more folding, you may want to consider upgrading to a Dynafold paper folding machine or an equivalent.

One of my favorite features found in the P7200 is the multi-sheet bypass slot. This slot, located on the top of the machine, allows the operator to manually feed up to three sheets of stapled paper at a time. While not fully automatic, this saves a lot of time over manually folding up to three sheets of paper at a time.

Complaints on this folder are few and far between. The majority of the complaints come from people that are using it for more folding volume than it was designed to do. Remember, the P7200 is designed for light-volume use.

Be aware that the Premier RapidFold P7200 uses friction wheels to feed paper. This means glossy paper may not work. This is because the friction wheels can potentially slip on the slick surface and cause a paper jam. This is the case with most friction-feed paper folding machines.

Overall I really like the RapidFold P7200, taking into account what it is designed to do. It gets the job done and saves a lot of time over manually folding paper. This type of paper folder is ideal for use in schools, churches and businesses that have occasional to light-duty folding needs.

You can find the Martin Yale Premier RapidFold P2000 folding machine here. You can find our entire selection of paper folding machines here.

I have a few customers a day ask me if there are any paper folding machines that are able to fold multiple sheets of paper at a time. The answer is kind of a mixed bag. There are solutions to multi-sheet paper folding. Here are a few options you may want to consider.

First of all, a standard paper folding machine cannot automatically fold multiple sheets of paper at a time. They are all designed to pull one sheet off the stack and fold it. In order for a paper folding machine to fold multiple sheets, it would need to have multiple feed trays. There are machines that can do this, which I will discuss a few paragraphs down.

Many standard paper folding machines have a bypass opening, which looks like a slot, located on the top of the machine (kind of like a paper shredder). Folding machine equipped with a bypass slot can often fold up to three sheets of paper at a time, but require the paper to be manually fed. An example of this type of folding machine is the MBM 87M folding machine found here.

Manually feeding three sheets of paper through the bypass slot is still much faster than folding paper by hand, but it is still not automated. For automated multi-sheet folding, you will need to use a paper folder inserter.

Paper folder inserters, designed to fold multiple sheets and insert them into an envelope, can be used for multi sheet folding. Simply turn off the inserting portion of the operation so it only folds paper.

At this time there aren’t any other options. You must use the bypass slot (if so equipment) on a standard folding machine or use a paper folder inserter equipped with multiple feed trays.

You can find our entire selection of paper folding machines here. You can find our entire selection of paper folder inserters here.

Symptoms of a failing or broken paper folding machine are sometimes subtle and other times dramatic. Issues can result from worn-out rollers, severe paper jams, misaligned folding plates and much more. Don’t give up on your folding machine. You may be able to fix it.

To begin with, we have a Service Department here at ABC Office that specializes in fixing and repairing folding machines. They can often help you diagnose issues over the phone and help you get the parts you need to get the folding machine up and running. You can contact our Service Department by calling 1-800-658-8788 x129 or by filling out this form.

In cases where you are unable to replace the parts yourself, our Service Department offers a couple of options. Your first option is to send the machine in to our service department for repair. Your second option is to have our Service Department find someone in your local area.

Here are a few preventative maintenance tips you may want to consider using:

Roller Cleaner Rejuvenator (found here) – This is a type of cleaner that you can use to clean off paper dust and ink from the folding machine’s rollers. It also helps moisturize them, preventing cracks that tend to occur over time. Paper dust and leftover ink are two of the biggest causes of folding issues.

Static Eliminator (found here) – Static eliminator can be used on a folding machine to help cut down on static electricity. Static electricity also causes a lot of paper jams by causing misfeeds.

Unfortunately sometimes repairs are either cost prohibitive or repairs are simply not an option. We carry a great selection of both air and friction-feed folding machines found here.

I had someone recently ask me if it is possible to laminate a sheet of card stock or paper that has already been folded. This was in relation to restaurant menus, but can be applied to many other projects. The answer is fairly short and simple.

You can laminate paper that has already been folded, but you probably won’t be happy with the results. This is because the crease in folded paper creates an uneven surface. While this surface can be laminated, air will often get trapped under the lamination film and the end result will be pretty ugly.

Standard copy paper may come out just fine, but card stock is where you run into the biggest problems. This isn’t to say it will always turn out bad, but I can’t make any promises. The uneven ridge created by the fold is hard for the laminator to flatten out.

If you need to fold something that is laminated, I recommend using a paper scoring machine. These machines, sometimes called creasers, will crease the paper down the middle, making it easy to fold. The end result looks great.

So in relation to menus, I highly recommend laminating them first and then scoring them. You will be happy with the results.

You can find our laminators here and our paper scoring machines here. Still have questions about laminating and folding paper? Contact one of our specialists at 1-800-658-8788 or post your question in a comment.

Have a great day!