I had a customer ask me recently if electric letter openers sometimes damage the mail they are opening. I can understand the concern. Anytime blades and knives are involved, you would think damage could potentially occur. So, can an automatic electric letter opener damage mail?

The answer to this is yes and no, depending on the letter-opening machine being used. There are two very distinct technologies used. Here is what you will find when looking for a letter opener.

Traditional Letter Opener – Traditional electric letter openers literally cut off the edge of an envelope. This is usually about a 1/8-inch strip. Cutting off this edge allows access to the contents inside. Because cutting is involved, if mail contents are too close to the edge, the potential does exist of the mail being cut as well. The chances of this happening are very slim.

Envelope Slitter / Opener – Envelope slitters use a slightly different approach to opening mail. They slit the outside of the envelope, near the edge, allowing access to the contents inside. The blade is designed to slit the envelope deep enough to open the envelope, but not so deep that it cuts the contents inside. This newer technology is safer for mail and creates very little mess.

The chances of mail being damaged by a letter opener are pretty slim. We have sold many of these machines over the years and I have yet to hear from a customer complaining about their mail being damaged.

We currently offer a great selection of high-speed automatic letter openers that utilize both technologies. The machine you use in your mailroom will depend entirely on how many pieces of mail and letters you will be opening per day.

You can find our entire selection of automatic electric letter openers here.

Do you run a printing press or have the need to count thousands of sheets of paper every day? Do you need high-speed batch counting and tabbing capabilities? If these questions apply to you, you may need a paper counting machine. One of our most popular machines is the Max-Bantam paper counter. We have one of these machines on our showroom floor and I have used it on several occasions. This is my review.

Quantity control and cost justification are huge concerns in the printing business. The ability to separate print jobs into individual stacks is also a huge issue in the printing business. You don’t want to end up printing too much or short changing someone.

The Max-Bantam paper counter, made by U.S. Paper Counters, is extremely easy to set up, is extremely accurate and gets the job done in seconds. This machine can do up to 2,000 counts per minute (CPM) on 25-250 gsm paper. The counting speed is adjustable. Not only is the Max-Bantam fast, it is also accurate.

Unlike many machines out there that count paper based on the weight, the Max-Bantam provides an exact number by literally counting each sheet. I have had customers ask if it is accurate every time. I have placed the same stack in this machine, counting it multiple times, and it always provides the exact same number of sheets. It is EXTREMELY accurate.

Why Use The Max-Bantam Paper Counter?

1. Exact count deliveries
2. Provide competitive quotes
3. Eliminate re-runs & miscounts
4. Improve quantity control
5. Verify quantities of stock deliveries
6. Improve customer satisfaction

The Max-Bantam is packed with features. Besides counting paper, it also has tab insertion and batch counting capabilities. You can tell the Max-Bantam to place a tab into every 5 to 999 sheets. The tab insertion depth can even be adjusted. The tabs are fed from a tab roll. An indicator light will let you know when the tab roll is running low.

Access to the machine is simple. There is a door in the back that allows easy access to the tape roll and mechanical components. The front of the machine also has an access panel, making maintenance on this machine a breeze. The front panel requires a key to access.

The counting surface on the front of the Max-Bantam is 15” x 18” in size. The Max-Bantam can handle sheet sizes as small as 2 1/4″ x 4″.

I do recommend using a paper jogger prior to counting the paper. This helps square up the edges and makes it easier for the Max-Bantam to count paper. You can find our paper joggers here.

The build quality on the Max-Bantam is top notch. I have opened up this machine and have used it and can tell you that it is solid. You can view my video demonstration of the Max-Bantam by going here.

I highly recommend the Max-Bantam paper counter. This particular model is a customer favorite. If you need even higher capacity and faster counting speeds, U.S. Paper Counters does make even larger and heavier-duty paper counters.

You can find the Max-Bantam paper counter here. You can find our entire selection of paper counting machines here. Feel free to speak with one of our specialists with your questions by calling 1-800-658-8788. Not only can they help answer your questions, they can even offer you an interactive live video demo over the Web.

Tearing apart and bursting paper into separate sheets is an important part of many businesses operations. If you are in the market for a forms burster or detacher, you should seriously consider using the Martin Yale 970A tabletop continuous form burster. I have had a chance to use this machine and this is my review.

Bursters are available in two formats. One type is a continuous forms burster and the other is a cut sheet burster. The Martin Yale 970A is an electric-powered continuous forms burster. This means it is designed to be used with continuous carbonless, carbon interleaved and computer form paper.

Continuous form paper is paper that has the perforated side margins, tine holes along the side with sheets attached in an accordion-like fashion. This paper is commonly used for printing bank statements, checks and invoices and is commonly found in government offices, military offices and banks.

The Martin Yale 970A takes this paper, tears it apart into individual sheets and cuts off the side margins (1/2″ to 3/4″ wide) using high-carbon steel blades. The entire process is done very quickly. A stack of continuous form paper can be fed into the 970A and be completely bursted apart in just a few minutes thanks to a tough motor. The entire process is very interesting to watch.

The 970A is one of the most affordable continuous form bursters in its class and is currently the most affordable bursting machine we offer. It can be used with paper 5.5 to 17-inches wide and 3 to12-inches long. Not only will it burst apart individual sheets of paper, but can also burst up to 5-part carbonless and 3-part carbon interleaved documents.

The setup process is really easy and once set doesn’t require any special babysitting. The registry stays dead on. The motor runs at a speed of 6,000 8 ½ x 11 forms per hour or 15,000 3 ½ inch long checks per hour. This is very fast for a machine at this price level.

We actually have one of these bursters on our showroom floor right now. You’re more than welcome to send in samples to have them tested on the 970A and we can even set up a live video demonstration of this machine over the Internet. Just call us at 1-800-658-8788 to set up an appointment.

Overall I really like the Martin Yale 970A tabletop form burster. If you have to burst apart continuous form paper, you should really consider using it. The build quality is great and I’m not aware of any quality issues. This burster has been around for well over 10+ years.

You can find the Martin Yale 970A tabletop continuous form burster here. You can find our entire selection of automatic bursters and detachers here.

Are you in need of an effective way to number and track documents using an electric numbering machine? One machine you may want to seriously consider is the Lassco W200 Number-All numbering machine. This is my review.

Numbering machines play an important roll in tracking and verifying documents. They can also be used to stamp tickets, booklets, NCR forms and more. Many numbering machines are manually operated. Unfortunately manual numbering machines can be labor intensive and often are unable to keep up with demand.

The W200 Number-All is an electric-powered numbering machine that uses a six digit numbering head. The head on this machine can do consecutive, duplicate, triplicate, 4 times in a row, 6 times in a row, 12 times in a row and repeat numbering. This much versatility in a numbering machine is ideal for business operations. Setting up the Number-All for the type of numbering you want to do is easy.

The Number-All has a huge benefit over a manual stamp because it is able to provide optimal crash number pressure, making the stamp clear and legible. The crash number’s pressure can go through up to 4-part NCR paper. The pressure cannot be adjusted. If pressure adjustment is needed, you will want to look at the Number-Rite numbering machine.

Registration and alignment on the W200 Number-All is fairly simple. It has adjustable paper guides that allow you to set the machine up to work with your paper size. The numbering head can be adjusted a full 360 degrees and can be tilted forward or backward.

The W200 Number-All will definitely save you a lot of time over a manual numbering machine. The build quality is excellent and the machine is easy to use. It has a foot pedal that allows for hands free feeding, alignment and adjusting. The numbering head is installed with a Gothic font.

I definitely recommend this machine for medium-volume numbering needs. When you open the box, you will find the W200 Number-All machine, a bottle of ink and five inkpads.

You can find the Lassco W200 Number-All numbering machine here. You can find our entire selection of numbering machines here.

Are you in need of a quick, effective and easy way to stamp numbers on carbonless, delicate and standard paper? One machine you may want to consider using is the Lassco-Wizer Number-Rite W100-3 electronic sequential numbering machine. This is my review.

Numbering machines are extremely useful when it comes to document management and tracking. Speed can be a huge factor when it comes to stamping a lot of documents on a daily basis. This is where electronic numbering machines come in handy.

The Number-Rite W100-3 from Lassco-Wizer is considered my many to be one of the most reliable and effective electric sequential numbering machines around. This is due in part to the build quality, but also has to do with the versatility. This numbering machine can just about do it all.

To begin with, the W100-3 Number Rite has the ability to have the stamping head oriented in just about any direction. This is important when it comes to number placement on paper. The stamping head can even be fine tuned and tilted for optimal impressions.

The stamping head is powerful enough to stamp thru up to 8-part carbonless paper, but is sensitive enough to stamp delicate paper. This is all thanks to an adjustable hit crash number.

The numbers themselves can be adjusted to stamp in consecutive, duplicate, triplicate, 4 times, 6 times, 12 times or repeat action. How many numbering machines can do that?

The Number-Rite W100-3 includes paper guides for repetitive number stamping and proper registration. Once set, just place your paper on the work area, press the foot pedal and start stamping. It’s that easy. The stamping head comes in a Gothic font, but a Roman type font is also available.

Overall I really like the Number-Rite W100-3. It is one of the most versatile numbering machines I have seen and the quality is top notch. Weighing in at 13 pounds, this little machine can be used on most desks and tables.

You can find the Lassco-Wizer Number-Rite W100-3 electronic sequential numbering machine here. You can find our entire selection of numbering machines here.

Are you looking for simplicity and affordability in a typewriter? If so, the TA Adler-Royal Satellite 40 electronic typewriter may be just what you need. This is my review.

TA Alder-Royal has been making typewriters for years now and have developed a reputation for making solid, reliable typewriters. They currently manufacture about four different models, ranging from simple to digital.

One question I hear from a lot of people is, “People still use typewriters?” The quick and simple answer is an emphatic yes. Many people use typewriters, including many businesses, military and government. These aren’t your parent’s typewriters either. TA Adler-Royal typewriters feature the latest in modern-day technology.

The Satellite 40 is one of the most affordable typewriters from TA Adler-Royal. It features a 15-inch carriage and can handle paper up to 11.5-inches long. These are pretty impressive specifications and means the Satellite 40 can use most standard paper sizes.

Unlike typewriters of old, the Satellite 40 features:

• 10, 12, 15, PS Pitch Selection
• 700 Character Correction Memory
• Line/Word/Character Erase
• Battery Back-Up
• Optional Spell Check

The build quality on the Satellite 40 is exceptional high and it weighs in at 25 pounds (shipped). The Satellite 40 can easily be used on a desk, table or countertop and is light enough to be moved from one place to another.

With a 20 character per second type speed (CPS), the Satellite 40 will have no problem keeping up with you. The text quality is clear, crisp and affordable. Unlike many other typewriters out there, supplies for the Satellite 4 are easy to come by.

I highly recommend the TA Adler-Royal Satellite 40 and consider it to be a great fit for just about any office that has typewriting needs.

You can find the TA Adler-Royal Satellite 40 electronic typewriter here. You can find our entire selection of typewriters here. Do you still have questions about typewriters? Speak with one of our typewriter specialists by calling 1-800-658-8788.

Are you in need of a paper collator, but don’t have the funds or needs of a high-end automatic collating machine? One model you may want to consider is the Martin Yale CL6 6-Station manual collator. I have used this collator and this is my review.

Collating paper manually takes time. I still have vivid memories of my teacher placing six pages of a test out on a table and asking each of us to pull one sheet off the top and staple it. If you have a workforce of 25-30 students, this goes by pretty fast, but manually collating and stapling paper takes some time.

The CL6 collator gets the job done much faster. While still manually operated, the CL6 is built to increase collating speeds by six fold. Setup and operation are very easy.

The CL6 has a total of six bins. Simply place your six separate stacks of paper in these six bins. Once loaded with paper, you can pull the collating lever on the side of the machine. This causes the CL6 to grab a sheet off the top of each pile, creating a nicely collated stack that can then be stapled.

The concept is remarkably simple, especially when you inspect the machine, yet it is a huge time saver. I like the fact that it is lightweight, portable and can be used on a desk. The price is certainly affordable, especially compared to an electric paper collator.

I do wish the CL6 were made out of metal for durability. While the build quality is nice, it is made out of plastic. I’m not the biggest fan of plastic office equipment. Aside from that, the CL6 should still hold up well.

The CL6 is not designed for use in a printing press. It is designed for light to moderate use. It is certainly more than enough for a classroom and can also be used in a church or business without any problems. Each bin holds up to 100 sheets of standard or legal-size paper.

Overall I like the Martin Yale CL6 manual collator. The price is reasonable and the time savings are invaluable.

You can find the Martin Yale CL6 6-Station manual collator here. You can find our entire selection of paper collators here.

Do you need to add your business card to the front or inside of a report cover or a proposal? One clever way of doing this is by using the Card-It business card insert cutter. I have had the opportunity to use it and this is my review.

Business cards provide a great way to get your name out there. The contact information can prove to be invaluable and is a great marketing tool. One problem that occurs with business cards is that they can get lost.

One way to make sure your business card is seen and presentable is by adding it to literature, handouts and proposals. What you need is the Card-It business card insert cutter. The concept is simple, but the end results are professional, effective and convenient.

The Card-It itself is very portable. It only weighs a few pounds and can easily be put in a suitcase or bag. It is especially nice to have at tradeshows, making it possible to put your business card into not only your literature, but other literature as well.

The Card-It essentially cuts two diagonal slits into paper. You can then insert two apposing corners of a business card into these slots. The result is a business card holder. The Card-It can be used to punch slots in card stock, brochures and more. The throat is deep enough to place a business card in the center of an 8 ½ x 11 sheet of paper.

While the machine is fairly simple in design, it is very good at what it does. I have used this to place business cards in cardstock and have never had a problem with it.

You can find the Card-It business card insert cutter / slitter here.

Opening letters and envelopes can be messy and a hassle. One machine that can really speed things up is an automatic letter opener. If you are in the process of looking for one, a model you should seriously consider is the Formax FD 450 automatic electric envelope opener. This is my review.

To begin with, Formax has been making high-end office equipment for years. They are best known for their paper folder inserters, but they also make a wide range of joggers, bursters, paper shredders and letter openers. The build quality with Formax is excellent. Most Formax products are made in the U.S.A. and the FD 450 is one of them.

The Formax FD 450 is designed for high speed and high volume letter opening. This is all done automatically. You place the letters in the hopper on one end, the FD 450 opens them and they come out the other end opened up. The concept is simple, but there are subtle differences between letter opening machines that you will want to be aware of.

To begin with, the Formax FD 450 uses a slitter to open up mail. This means there are no letter ends cut off or waste paper strips lying around. The FD 450 cuts the mail open, without damaging the contents. The process is quick and best of all it’s very clean. Many other competitors cut off the top of the envelope, leaving waste paper strips behind, which is messy and can potentially damage contents.

The FD 450 is also pretty fast. It operates at a speed of up to 300 envelopes per minute. This is blazing fast. Not only is it fast at opening envelopes, it can open various mixed sizes of envelopes without jamming or causing issues. Envelope sizes can range from 3.5 x 11-inches up to 5.5 x 15.6-inches. This is a nice range and should cover most envelopes sizes used today.

The machine itself only weighs 20 pounds, so it can be used on pretty much any table, workbench or desk. Moving the letter opener should also be fairly easy to do. Overall setup and use is extremely easy and does not require any special training.

You can get the Formax FD 450 with the optional 402 series paper jogger. This will jog envelopes as they leave the machine and keep everything neat and organized.

I consider the Formax FD 450 to be once of the highest quality automatic letter openers available on the market. You will find the FD 450 in mailrooms, schools, churches and businesses. The “American-Made” quality is some of the best I have seen.

You can find the Formax FD 450 automatic letter opener here. You can find our entire selection of automatic letter openers here.

Does your business or organization need an effective solution for document and check signing operations? If so, one model you may want to consider using is the Martin Yale 930A continuous form check signer. I have used this check signer and this is my review.

Check and document signers make life much easier, especially when it comes to signing thousands of documents, checks and other material. Check signers are easy to set up and can be run throughout the day without any issues.

The Martin Yale 930A continuous form check signer can be used to sign a variety of material, as long as it falls within a 5 ½-inches to 16 ½-inches wide or 3 ½-inches or 7-inches long range. The motor runs at a speed of 240 documents per hour. This means the Martin Yale 930A is both fast and versatile.

As previously mentioned, the 930A is a continuous form document signer. This means it can only be used with continuous form paper. Continuous form paper has perforated side margins with tiny 1/8-inch (approx) holes. These side holes help printers feed the paper and also help this check signer feed paper. This type of paper is still widely used by many businesses and government agencies.

The 930A check signer uses signature plates to sign the documents. These signature plates are rounded, allowing them to be mounted to a motor-powered cylinder. This cylinder spins, allowing the plates to be inked and sign the document. The entire process is an engineering feet and works very well.

The signature plates are very easy to remove and change out. Don’t worry about unauthorized access. The signature plates are inaccessible and can only be retrieved by opening the cover with a key. You can use single and double signature plates with the 930A.

The 930A includes a black ink roller and can be used with an optional tri-ink roller. These ink rollers are very easy to access and change. These signature plates can sign paper anywhere from 14# to 125# thick.

The Martin Yale 930A has been around for over a decade and is a time tested machine. It is considered by many to be one of the best continuous form check signers available today. I have used this check signer and can vouch for the build quality and the ease-of-use.

If you need a document signer, but don’t need a continuous form check signer, we also carry a wide selection of cut sheet check signers. Cut sheet paper is “free” paper like you use in a copy machine or printer.

Do you still have questions about check and document signing? Feel free to call one of our specialists at 1-800-658-8788. They love to answer questions and will not pressure you to buy anything. You can also post questions here in a comment.

You can find the Martin Yale 930A continuous form check signer here. You can find our entire selection of continuous form and cut sheet check and document signers here.