Archive for the ‘Product Reviews’ Category

Intelli-Cut 530D Digital Stack Paper Cutter Review

Tuesday, October 4th, 2011

Intelli-Cut 503D Stack Paper CutterStack paper cutters slice through and cut hundreds of sheets of paper at a time. Some are even capable of cutting up to 3″ of paper in a single pass! While not everyone can afford a fully automatic stack cutter, one great alternative is a manual stack cutter like the Intelli-Cut 530D. I recently had a chance to play around with this cutter and this is my review.

To begin with, the Intelli-Cut is a fully manual stack paper cutter. Don’t let that scare you off. While operation is manual, it is extremely easy to use and takes just seconds to operate. In fact, I am able to cut through 100+ sheets of paper simply by using a couple of fingers. I’m pretty sure even a child could operate this thing (although I wouldn’t recommend it).

So what is manual on this machine? To begin with, the clamping mechanism is activated by pulling on one handle where the cutting is done by pulling another handle. The clamp doesn’t require much force and from what I’ve seen it seems to do a great job of keeping paper in place. The blade, as I mentioned earlier, sliced through the paper like butter.

The backstop on the Intelli-Cut 530D is manual, but has some digital assistance. While you do have to turn a hand crank to move the backstop forward and backward, a digital display on the front left of the machine lets you know exactly where the backstop is located. This makes adjustments extremely easy, not to mention extremely accurate.

The cutting blade on the 530D is made from hardened steel and seems to hold up well with repeated use. As the blade cuts through the paper, it ultimately ends up in a cutting stick, which allows you to cut everything right down to the last sheet of paper. The cutting stick is easy to access and simply pulls out of the side of the machine when it needs to be rotated or replaced.

This is a video demo of the Intelli-Cut 530D in use:

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Safety was definitely in great consideration when this machine was built. Much like Dahle and Triumph stack cutters, the 530D has a clear safety guard that has to be pulled into place before cutting can begin. This helps keep appendages, such as your fingers, safe from harm.

I have used the 530D to cut standard paper, card stock and laminated material. It seemed to handle all extremely well. The build quality is excellent. Just about everything I touched, prodded and tested seemed to be made out of metal. It seems to hold up well right with the great German stack cutters that I have previously used.

I personally used the 530D with the optional stand (which I love), however, you can use this cutter on a table or desk. Just be aware that it does weigh 115 pounds shipped.

Overall I highly recommend this cutter. If the digital display isn’t exactly a necessity for you, you can order this cutter as the Intelli-Cut 530M without the digital display (found here). This machine is perfect for small print shops, copy centers and others that need to quickly cut down up to 1.5″ of paper at a time.

You can find the Intelli-Cut 530D stack paper cutter here and our entire selection of stack paper cutters here.

Why You May Want to Use the Intelli-Fold DE-172AF

Thursday, September 29th, 2011

Intelli-Fold DE-172AF Paper Folding MachinePaper 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.

Carl DC-300N Premium 12″ Rotary Paper Trimmer Review

Wednesday, August 24th, 2011

Carl DC-300N Premium Rotary Paper TrimmerWhen people ask me what paper trimmer I recommend for scrapbook operations, I almost always recommend a Carl paper trimmer. This isn’t because Fiskars, Purple Cows and other brands are necessarily bad, it is because Carl goes above and beyond what you would expect in a paper trimmer. One recent addition to our site, which will probably be a huge hit with the scrabookers, is the Carl DC-300N premium 12″ rotary paper trimmer. This is my review.

Carl manufactures a wide variety of paper trimmers. This varies from handheld pizza-cutter-like trimmers to high-end professional trimmers for photographers. Carl paper trimmers are affordable. A few years back I purchased an RT-200 for my wife and she absolutely loves it.

The Carl DC-300N has a lot going for it. To begin with, it is made from 100 percent recycled materials. This is pretty cool in my book, and if you’re trying to be more green, an environmentally-friendly paper trimmer like the DC-300N is a great option. Both the metal and plastic components are made from recycled materials.

One feature everyone expects to have in a scrapbook-capable paper cutter is portability. While portability may not be a feature you need in a rotary paper trimmer, this cutter includes a built-in handle. Just grab the cutter and go! It also features several storage compartments where you can place extra blades.  You can see more pictures of the Carl DC-300N here.

Blades on the DC-300N are extremely easy to swap out. Not special tools are required. The cutting head itself keeps the blade safely covered during the entire cutting process, making the DC-300N extremely safe. The cutting head is also ergonomically designed to fit in the palm of your hand, making the trimming operation seamless. The blade itself is a premium carbide blade.

While you would expect a paper trimmer to cut only paper, the DC-300N can also be used to trim card stock, photographs, laminated material and more. It has a 20 sheet cutting capacity (with 20lb paper), so it is a pretty robust little cutter, especially considering the low price.

Accuracy may be one of the DC-300N’s highest selling points. The cutting blade is designed to stay true, stable and accurate during the entire cutting process. A built-in clamp helps to keep paper in place, eliminating the dreaded crooked cut. Specially patented Carl cutting rails also help keep things sturdy. This cutter is also pre-calibrated prior to shipping, ensuring accuracy.

One cool feature that I really like, which also helps contribute to accuracy, is the luminous paper holder. This is the green/yellow looking plastic piece you see in the picture. This holder is designed to gather light and highlight the item being trimmed. This puts you in control of the cutting process and makes it extremely easy to see what’s going on.

As you would expect with any rotary paper trimmer, the Carl DC-300N has a series of graphics, grids and rulers printed right on the base of the cutter. This makes it easy to align material for cutting. An adjustable paper clamp also helps you line up your cut.

Overall I have to say that this is a solid little cutter. While it isn’t designed for high-volume cutting, it is perfect for scrabooking, hobby cutting, photo trimming and much more.

You can find the Carl DC-300N premium 12″ rotary paper trimmer here and our entire line of rotary paper cutters here.

Intimus Pro 175CC3 Cross Cut Shredder Review

Monday, August 15th, 2011

Intimus Pro 175CC3 Cross Cut Paper ShredderWhen businesses ask me which shredder security level they should go with, I usually recommend a security level 3. The level 3 particle size offers a nice blend of security and capacity. If you’re a business and are looking for a level 3 shredder that can be used by 6-8 people throughout the day, you may want to consider the Intimus Pro 175CC3 cross cut shredder. This is my review.

The Intimus brand has been around for some time. Several years ago the line was run and managed by Schleicher, but is now run by Martin Yale. Intimus shredders are considered to be some of the best shredders around. They first gained worldwide recognition in the 1970s, due in part to Oliver North using an Intimus 007-S to shred sensitive information during the Iran-Contra scandal.

Intimus shredders are known today as being easy-to-use, reliable and extremely durable. Most Intimus shredders are still made in Germany, designed using precision engineering and made from high-quality materials.

The Intimus Pro 175CC3 carries on the Intimus name and reputation. This departmental shredder offers an excellent blend of security and capacity. This shredder cuts paper down into 5/32″ x 1 13/16″ particles, which qualifies as a level 3 shredder according to DIN 32757 standards. It also offers an excellent capacity, capable of shredding up to 50 sheets of 20lb paper at a time. This is enough speed and security to keep up with most business operations.

Not only does the Intimus Pro 175CC3 shred paper, but it can also handle CDs, DVDs, floppy disks and plastic cards. A wide 16″ cutting width handles most sizes of paper. This includes envelopes, receipts, letter size paper, legal size paper and even larger computer forms paper.  The hardened steel cutting shafts can also handle staples and paper clips without suffering nicks and damage. The cutting shafts are also covered by a lifetime warranty.

While the specifications on this shredder are impressive, it’s the “Extra” features that really sell this shredder. Let me go over a few of the most impressive features.

i-Control – The i-Control management system is very robust. It informs and notifies the operator regarding the shredder’s status. This includes a child safety lockout, an oil indicator, a paper jam notification, bin full status and a bin open alert.

EcoLogic
– Being green not only makes sense for the planet, but also for energy savings. The 175CC3 uses an EcoLogic system that puts the shredder into sleep mode when it has been sitting idle. While in seep mode, this shredder uses zero power.

DLS
– A special sensor, built into the shredder head, can sense the amount of paper being run through. This data is then converted into changing colors via a light strip (like traffic lights) that show up in the shredder’s feed area. This lets the operator know whether the shredder is being overburdened or not. This really helps the operator gauge how much paper is being fed without having to manually count the sheets prior to shredding.

The Intimus 175CC3 also includes several features that are now the “norm” with shredders. This includes an auto on/off and reverse switch. It also includes a light that notifies you when the shredder needs to be oiled, which is a hug plus for shredder longevity. Casters make this shredder extremely easy to move around the office.

This is a very robust shredder, weighing in at 198 pounds, and should easily be able to keep up with most business shredding needs. This shredder definitely makes an impression on me and I believe you will appreciate it too.

You can find the Intimus Pro 175CC3 cross cut shredder here, our entire line of Intimus shredders here and our broad selection of office paper shredders here.

Minipack RP 40 Industrial Shrink Wrap Machine Review

Monday, August 8th, 2011

Minipack RP 40 Industrial Shrink Wrap MachineShrink wrap machines come in all shapes and sizes. If you’re familiar with packaging, you’ve probably seen I-bar sealers, L-bar sealers with heat tunnels and much more. One of the most effective shrink wrappers I have used is the integrated tunnel / L-bar sealers made by Minipack. One such example is the Minipack RP 40 industrial grade shrink wrap machine. This is my review.

Minipack is an Italian company that manufactures shrink wrap machines, vacuum food sealers, heat tunnels and much more. Their products are renowned for their quality, results, durability and much more.

The RP 40 is a relatively new machine. I don’t know about you, but when I first saw it, the RP 40 reminded me of the old Minipack Mini Plus. The dimensions are even similar. That said, the Minipack RP 40 is a compact all-in-one style shrink wrap machine that is perfect for low to medium volume packaging. It is rated at about 6 wraps per minute, which is significantly faster than the 1-2 a minute that most I-bar sealers provide.

The Minipack RP 40 has a 16″ x 10″ x 6.6″ sealing area. This is big enough to package a DVD, Blu-ray, CD, small box, books, paper, small baskets and much more. As mentioned earlier, this is an all-in-one machine. Once you have inserted your product into the film, all you need to do is pull down the hood.

The hood includes an L-bar sealer, which quickly cuts the film. Once cut, the machine then uses the hood chamber area as a heat tunnel. This means cutting and shrinking is all done in a single pass. The clear Plexiglas hood makes it easy to see what is going on the entire time! I certainly appreciate this option far more than a standard enclosed heat tunnel.

Setting up this machine is easy. It has a centerfold shrink film roll dispenser that is set on smooth bearings. The RP 40 can use a roll of film up to 20″ wide and 10″ in diameter. Once your film has been placed on the dispenser rollers, simply feed it through the tear-free perforators and through the film separator. That’s pretty much it. I can set this machine up with film in about 2-3 minutes.

The RP 40 can be used with both PVC and Polyolefin centerfold shrink film. This allows you to package products for retail sale or food for display in a grocery store. The impulse sealer is fast and the heat sealing is quick enough that it will not damage food products.

The control panel is extremely easy to set up. A digital display combined with buttons lets you modify various settings and the built in storage will save up to 10 customizable programs.

The body of the RP 40 is made out of solid steel coated with a baked enamel finish, not that flimsy sheet metal stuff you find in other machines. The quality is unprecedented. This sealer includes its own supportive legs that are set on casters for added portability.

In conclusion, I highly recommend this machine. The quality is there, it should easily hold up for years to come and it is excellent for daily packaging of a variety of products. It really is that good. The RP 40 is robust enough for your manufacturing needs, yet compact enough that it can be used in most rooms. I recommend a ventilated room for use with PVC film.

You can find the Minipack RP 40 shrink wrap machine here, our centerfold rolls of shrink film here and our entire selection of shrink wrap machines here.

Cassida C200 Coin Counter, Sorter and Wrapper Review

Monday, August 1st, 2011

Cassida C200 Coin Counter, Sorter and WrapperHave you ever used one of those “gravity” coin sorters that bounce the coins around and eventually deposit them in the appropriate bin? While these machines are fun to look at, and kids get a kick out of them, you probably need something a little more robust for your coin sorting and counting needs. One new machine that you may want to look at is the Cassida C200 coin counter, sorter and wrapper. This is my review.

Cassida is one of the leading manufacturers of coin counters, sorters, wrappers, bill counters and counterfeit bill detectors. Their products are some of the most affordable available online and continue to offer some of the best customer satisfaction rates I’ve seen in some time. When Cassida products leave our warehouse, we rarely ever hear back with issues.

The Cassida C200 is much like what the C100 used to be before it was re-designed. The C200 essentially consists of a plastic shell, plastic deposit bins, a few electronics (including buttons and a digital display) as well as a powered motor that paddles through the coins. A handle on the top of the machine makes it easy to pick up and move around.

I’ve you’ve been shopping around for a coin counter / sorter online, you’ve probably noticed that a lot of the specifications are based on dimes. There are a few reasons for this. To begin with, dimes are the smallest US denomination in size. This makes the specifications look extra nice. Saying a machine holes 1,000 dimes versus 400 quarters looks nicer.

That being said, the specifications I am going to provide you with are all rated in dimes. The bin, located on the top of the machine, can hold about 2,000 dimes, which is pretty impressive. Each of the coin drawers has a capacity of 900 coins. Compared to other coin sorters and counters, this isn’t bad.

Now that we’ve established that this machine can hold a lot of dimes, I would like to cover the various denominations it can handle. The Cassida C200 can handle pennies ($.01), nickels ($.05), dimes ($.10), quarters ($.25) and dollar coins ($1.00). A Canadian version is available upon request.

The C200 will not only sort coins into separate bins, but it will also provide you with a total value and total quantity. All data is viewable on the included digital LED readout. The green letters are very easy to view and the control panel itself is extremely easy to navigate.

The control panel allows you to flat out count coins, add several groups of coins together or even batch count. These are pretty much all the counting features most people need in a coin counting machine.

One of the coolest features of the Cassida C200 is its ability to also wrap coins in tubes. Simply remove the coin bins and replace them with the included coin tubes. These tubes make it easy to wrap and roll coins in just seconds. A shortcut button allows you to automatically set the C200 up for the appropriate batch counting required to fill up coin rolls. This is really neat.

In conclusion I have to say that the Cassida C200 is a very nice coin counter, sorter and wrapper. It is ideal for businesses, schools, churches and other organizations and can even be used for light to medium-volume bank or credit union coin counting. This machine gets high marks from me.

You can find the Cassida C200 coin counter, sorter and wrapper here and our entire selection of coin counting machines here.

Traco Portable Deluxe SuperSealer I-Bar Sealer Review

Wednesday, July 20th, 2011

Traco Portable Deluxe SuperSealerDo you package anywhere from a few dozen to a few hundred items per day? Are you looking for a way to make your retail product look more professional? You may want to consider using something like the Traco Portable Deluxe SuperSealer. This I-Bar sealer is excellent for shrink-wrap packaging just about anything. I have used this system and this is my review.

Traco is a U.S. manufacturer of shrink-wrap machines, film, heat guns, heat sealers, shrink sleeves and much more. We have been working with them for well over a decade, so I can attest to the fact that they are a reputable company that will be able to provide support for their past, current and future products.

Traco currently manufactures two different SuperSealers. They make the Standard SuperSealer and the Deluxe SuperSealer. They are both very similar in use and operation, with the biggest difference being that the Deluxe version comes with a 50’ starter roll of centerfold shrink film and a repair kit. Combined, there are over 150,000 SuperSealers in use today.

Using the Traco Portable Deluxe SuperSealer (try saying that 3 times fast) is very easy to use and only requires a few steps.

  • Step 1. First off you will want to be sure you have your roll of centerfold shrink film on the machine. The Traco SuperSealer has two rollers that spin on bearings on which sits the film. These two rollers help spin the centerfold roll and deploy the film. A small bar sits between the two flaps of the centerfold film, helping to keep it open, which in turn makes product insertion easy.
  • Step 2. You will now want to insert your CD, DVD,  box, soap, pizza or other product into the open pocket of the centerfold film. Push the product all the way back so that it sits in the upper left corner of the film.
  • Step 3. You can now bring down the I-bar of the sealer and seal the right side of the package. Once sealed, turn the product 90 degrees to the left and seal the other side shut.
  • Step 4. Now that the entire product has been sealed in plastic, you can now take the heat gun and run it over the film. The heat will cause the film to contract. Be sure to heat up the front, back and sides. Don’t allow the heat to sit on any one part for too long as it will cause the film to tear open.

It really is that easy. I have seen people use this machine to seal fruit baskets, soap bars, DVDs, chocolate, pizza and much more. If you are packaging food, be sure to use food-safe Polyolefin film. The Deluxe SuperSealer will also work with PVC film.

The Traco Deluxe SuperSealer is currently available in 5 different sizes. These include 13″, 18″, 24″, 32″ and 40″. If you’re not sure which size you need, be aware that the larger sizes can use smaller widths of film. When it comes to shrink wrap machines, it is better to over estimate than under estimate.

This is a video demo of the Traco Standard SuperSealer. It is almost identical to the Deluxe version minus the starter roll of film, repair kit and an onboard assistance light that lets you know when the sealing is done.

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Overall I am very impressed with this system. It is fast, effective, holds up well and is  great for low to medium-volume use. This machine is a best seller with our customers and the track record is excellent.

You can find the Traco Portable Deluxe SuperSealer and our entire selection of I-bar sealer shrink wrap systems here.

Widmer CC-3 Check Certifier Review

Tuesday, July 19th, 2011

Widmer CC-3 Electric Check CertifierIf you have ever worked in a bank or credit union, or have been in a position where you had to deal with checks, you are probably familiar with check certifiers. These devices are used to certify checks as they are cashed or deposited. This process usually involves a rubber stamp, which can be time consuming and sloppy. One great way to improve check-certifying efficiency is by using a machine like the Widmer CC-3 check certifier. This is my review.

Widmer is a well-known manufacturer of paper handling equipment. Products include time stamps, numbering machines, check signers, perforators, time clocks and much more. One thing I have always been impressed with Widmer products is the build quality. They are almost always made out of some sort of heavy-duty cast metal.

The CC-3 check certifier from Widmer is most frequently found in banks, credit unions and in businesses where checks are handled on regular basis. This particular machine is designed to replace traditional handheld rubber stamps. Here are a few reasons why:

  • Rubber stamps can be easily lost.
  • Handheld check certifiers often produce blurry results.
  • Check certification often ends up crooked.
  • Rubber stamp check certifiers take time.
  • Most rubber stamps can’t produce tri-color impressions.

The CC-3 helps improve on just about all of these points. To begin with, it can easily sit on just about any desk. It only weighs in at 18 pounds, so it is heavy enough to be durable yet light enough to be moved around.

One reason rubber stamp check certifiers produce blurry results is because it is difficult to get the stamp head to hit the paper evenly. The CC-3 evenly applies pressure (electronically) throughout the entire stamping head. All points of the stamp hit the check, producing crisp results. It also uses a self-advancing ribbon, rather than an ink pad, which helps further clarify the text and numbers.

Widmer CC-3 Check Certifier Stamp Sample

Registration with the CC-3 is straight and accurate every time. It is designed to make repetitive check certification quick and flawless. It incorporates an automatic trip switch that automatically stamps the check once inserted. This process keeps the stamp straight and dramatically improves check certification speeds.

The Widemer CC-3 check certifier can be used with tri-color ribbons for added security. The stamp inself produces a control number and a changeable date. I am including a photo of the check certification stamp in this post.

The overall build quality on the CC-3 is excellent. The heavy cast metal case holds up and the inner components are designed for daily continuous use. The case is secured with a lock and key. If you need to speed up your business’s check certification capabilities, I would definitely recommend the Widmer CC-3.

You can find the Widmer CC-3 check certifier here and our entire selection of money handling products here. Please feel free to call 1-800-658-8788 to speak with one of our customer service representatives with any questions you may have about this machine.

Formax FD 8202CC Cross Cut Deskside Shredder Review

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011

Formax FD 8202CC Deskside Office Paper ShredderA good deskside paper shredder should be capable of keeping up with daily paper shredding operations. It should be reliable, functional and easy to use. With several options available for deskside shredding, it can be tough to find a shredder that fits the bill (figuratively and literally). One paper shredder you may want to consider for your daily operations is the Formax FD 8202CC cross cut paper shredder. This is my review.

Formax is one of the big three manufacturers of office paper shredders. The currently make shredders designed for home office use all the way up to industrial use. Their shredders are known for being tough. The Formax FD 8202CC is their entry-level machine.

What is a deskside paper shredder? A deskside paper shredder is generally smaller than your average office shredder, typically designed to fit next to a desk (sometimes under a desk). They are typically designed for use by one person, although some higher-end machines (like this one) can be used by 2-3 people. The FD 8202CC is about as compact as a wastebasket, which is nice for portability and space.

The FD 8202CC isn’t designed for high-volume use, but it isn’t a cheap piece of plastic either. It is perfect for shredding bills, receipts, old documents and more. It is capable of taking your sensitive material and shredding it into tiny pieces of paper.

The Formax FD 8202CC shredder utilizes a Level 3 security level cut. The higher the security level, the tinier the particles. Shredders are rated on a scale of 1 to 6, with a Level 6 being capable of shredding top-secret documents. This shredder is compact enough to shred paper into 5/32″ x 1 1/8″. You should be aware that a Level 3 security level is more than enough to handle sensitive material and is the most common security level used by businesses.

While the FD 8202CC can be used to shred paper, it is versatile enough to shred other material as well. This includes CDs, DVDs and credit cards. A special flap folds down over the opening of this shredder, allowing for easy insertion of optical disks.

Many cross cut shredders require that staples and paper clips be removed prior to shredding, the Formax FD 8202CC can easily handle staples and paper clips without suffering any damage.

The Formax FD 8202 is packed with sensors, making shredding jobs easier. This includes an auto start sensor that detects paper as it is inserted, automatically starting the shredder. It also has an auto sensor that detects when the bin is full, automatically stopping the shredder (preventing potential damage).

In conclusion, this is a great compact paper shredder for deskside or home use. It is portable (only 7 pounds) and can shred up to 20 sheets of paper at a time!

You can find the Formax FD 8202CC cross cut paper shredder here and our entire selection of Formax paper shredders here. You can find our huge selection of office paper shredders here.

Semacon CM-65 Automatic Coin Crimping Machine Review

Wednesday, June 29th, 2011

Semacon CM-65 Electric Coin Crimping MachineIf you have a coin sorter or counter, and like roll your coins, you probably need a coil crimping machine. These machines quickly seal the end of coin tube rolls. If you’re in the market for a machine, or need to speed up operations, consider using the Semacon CM-65 automatic coin crimping machine. This is my review.

Semacon is one of the best-known manufacturers of coin counting machines, sorters and currency counters. Their products have been around for years and have developed a good reputation with customers. It is not uncommon for a Semacon machine to hold up for several years without any special servicing.

So what exactly does a coin-crimping machine do? These machines have a special head that is designed to seal the end of coin roll (aka coin shotgun shell or wrapper). These rolls are typically sturdy enough to hold pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters, yet are weak enough to break open if needed.

Semacon CM-65 Coin Crimper In UseThe Semacon CM-65 is the perfect companion device for just about any coin-rolling machine. It is available in three different versions. This includes a 1 head, 4 head and 6 head version. The heads can easily be removed and replaced with the head that corresponds with the denomination being crimped shut.

The Semacon CM-65 is completely electric. Using it is as easy as using a pencil sharpener and can be completed in three easy steps.

Step 1. Open the hidden storage compartment located under the machine and select the crimping head you need. This should correspond with the denomination of the coin roll you are sealing shut.

Step 2.
Hold the roll of coins you need crimped shut against the rotating crimping head.

Step 3.
After just a few seconds the coin wrapper will be completely crimped shut and you can move on to the next roll.

This is a quick video of the Semacon CM-65 in action:

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Who can use this machine? You will commonly find the Semacon CM-65 in banks, credit unions and in retail stores and businesses that roll coins for storage and distribution purposes.

While this machine may look a little intimidating up front, it is actually extremely safe to use. You can touch the rotating head and it will not pinch or hurt you. It can easily be placed on a desk, and at 20 lbs, is very easy to move around.

The quality of this machine is excellent and it is designed to be used throughout the day. If you handle coin rolls and wrappers on a daily basis, this is definitely a machine you should consider purchasing.

You can find the Semacon CM-65 coin crimping machine here and our entire selection of coin crimping machines here.

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