Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Free Shipping on Martin Yale Office Machines

Wednesday, November 30th, 2011

Martin Yale Paper Folding MachinesIf you have been shopping around for a great deal on a Martin Yale folding machine, paper cutter, Intimus paper shredder or other piece of office equipment, you’ll be happy to hear that for a limited time we are offering free shipping on most Martin Yale office machines. Martin Yale is one of the most popular manufacturers of products that we offer.

Free shipping covers well over 2-dozen different makes and models of products. Here are the product categories currently offering free shipping.

Categories with Free Shipping

This is a great deal and will save you a lot of money. We are excited to offer free shipping on these products. Take advantage of these great deals while you can.

Formax FD 6304 Envelope Stuffing Machine Video Demo

Thursday, October 20th, 2011

Formax FD 6304 Envelope Stuffing MachineHave you ever wondered how bills, invoices, mailers and other material are folded and inserted into envelopes? Perhaps…perhaps not. Whether you need one of these machines, or are simply curious how it works, we now have a video demo available of the Formax FD 6304 folder inserter. This machine is capable of folding and inserting up to 40,000 envelopes per month.

Folding and inserting machine, sometime called envelope-stuffing machines, are completely automated. All you have to do is enter a few settings and place empty envelopes and paper in the feeding trays. The machine does the rest. It literally pulls a sheet from each tray and inserts them into an envelope. The FD 6304 can even lick (with a water applicator) and seal the envelopes shut.

The Formax FD 6304 can single fold and insert up to 10 sheets of paper at once or tri-fold (aka letter fold) and insert up to 8 sheets of paper at once. It operates at a speed of about 3,600 pieces per hour. This machine is perfect for small to large businesses and can even be set up with OMR capabilities (optical mark recognition) for billing and invoicing.

Many people think that a folding and inserting machine is going to be complicated to use or difficult to set up. Formax has put a lot of research into usability and has dramatically simplified the setup procedure. It only takes a few steps to set up a Formax folder inserter. The FD 6304 even has a full-color touchscreen that makes it easy to set up an program up to 25 different jobs.

Here is a video demo of the Formax FD 6304 in action:

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The FD 6304 is currently available in about 12 different configurations. Some include special feeders, have high capacity feeders, feature vertical stackers, include MailDock software and more. The machine you get really depends on what you need.

You can find the Formax FD 6304 here and our entire selection of folding and envelope inserting machines here. Please feel free to speak with one of our envelope / mailing specialists by calling 1-800-658-8788.

What Mail Tabs & Wafer Seals Does The USPS Permit?

Thursday, March 24th, 2011

Automatic Mail TabbersWith recent changes to what the United States Postal Service (USPS) allows when it comes to mail tabbers has left many people confused. Some older machines are no longer compliant and many people are now wondering what kinds of tabs are permitted. I will try to help you understand what is and is not allowed in this article.

The USPS currently requires that folded documents and paper, that is not in an envelope, be tabbed or secured shut. Unsealed documents can quickly cause a jam in specialized / automated USPS equipment. Tabs and wafer seals are the preferred way to keep undeveloped material shut during mailing. Mailed pieces can also be glued or spot glued.

Improperly placed wafer seals and disallowed tabs can potentially jam in USPS equipment, causing some serious headaches. Incorrect positioning can also make it hard for the USPS to read barcodes or addresses. As a result, the USPS now requires that tabs be placed in specific places, and only specific types of tabs are allowed.

Mail Tabbing USPS Requirements

One of the biggest issues that our customers have had in the past is using perforated tabs. The USPS used to allow perforated tabs, but now requires that tabs and wafer seals be non-perforated. Specifically the USPS states that the tabs should measure in at 1 ½” and be non-perforated. This isn’t too much of a problem as non-perforated paper tabs are still very easy for customers and recipients to open.

Another concern I hear from customers is with regards to how many tabs can be used. The USPS allows multiple tabs to be used. Placement of the tabs depends on the type of document being mailed. Examples include double postcards, folded self-mailers and more. The USPS has a very useful guide showing where tabs should be placed. You can find that guide here.

Mail tabbing continues to be an affordable alternative to envelopes and makes mailing folded documents extremely easy and convenient. At ABC Office we offer a wide variety of different mail tabbing machines found here.

Feel free to call us at 1-800-658-8788 to speak with one of our mail tabbing specialists. They can help answer questions about USPS regulations and mail tabbers.

How To Use A Binding Machine

Wednesday, September 8th, 2010

Book Binding Machine How-To GuidesWhether you’re looking for a binding machine or already have one, you may need step-by-step instructions on how to use it. Manuals are often convoluted or don’t make sense and if you haven’t purchased a machine yet, you may want to know what you’re getting yourself into.

We have created detailed step-by-step guides on how to use coil, wire, comb and VeloBind machines.  These guides provide a detailed description, pictures and a video. Here are some links to our binding machine guides:

  1. How To Use A Comb Binding Machine (click here) – Comprehensive comb binding machine guide.
  2. How To Use A Wire Binding Machine (click here) – Comprehensive wire binding machine guide.
  3. How To Use A Coil Binding Machine (click here) - Comprehensive coil binding machine guide.
  4. How To Use A VeloBind Machine (click here) – Comprehensive VeloBind machine guide.

We can also help you track down replacement manuals if for any reason you have lost the original that came with your machine. You can do this by contacting our Service Department by calling 1-800-658-8788 x129 or by filling out this form.

Because we have a Service Department, we are also able to provide repairs, parts and maintenance. You can find our entire selection of book binding machines here.

Akiles AlphaBind-CM Comb Binding Machine Review

Wednesday, September 8th, 2010

Akiles AlphaBind-CM Comb Binding MachineDo you need a simple, yet reliable, comb binding machine solution for your office? If you’re looking for a machine that is affordable, yet durable, you may want to consider looking at the Akiles AlphaBind-CM comb binding machine. This is my review.

The brand name Akiles has almost become synonymous with binding. Akiles has been making machines for years and most of their machines have become classics. This includes the popular MegaBind and WireMac machines.

The AlphaBind-CM is one of the newest additions to the Akiles comb binding line. This new machine brings the all-metal construction Akiles is known for into a compact machine capable of comb binding documents up to 12-inches long. This makes the AlphaBind-CM ideal for binding letter-size documents.

The compact design of the AlphaBind-CM makes it ideal for use in an office environment. It weighs 41 pounds. While this is hefty (due to the metal construction), it is still light enough to be used on most desks and work surfaces.

Two features that I personally like about the AlphaBind-CM is the selectable punching pins and the adjustable margin depth.

Every one of the punching pins can be disengaged. This makes it possible to bind books of most sizes. If you are experiencing a half-punched or partially punched hole at the edge of the paper, simply disable that punching pin.

The margin depth can be adjusted to four different positions. Why is this nice? It’s nice because it makes it easier to bind both thin and thick books. Pages tend to rip out of thicker-bound books more easily. Punching farther into the paper helps remedy this problem.

This machine is completely manually operated. The punching is manual and the comb opening and closing is manual. The manual punch is capable of punching up to 25 sheets of paper at a time. While this machine is all manual, it is easy to use and requires little effort.

I would definitely rate the Akiles AlphaBind-CM as being ideal for low to medium-volume binding. It is a great option for businesses and organizations that need to occasionally bind books on a daily basis. It should easily hold up for years without any issues.

You can find the Akiles AlphaBind-CM comb binding machine here. You can find our entire selection of comb binding machines here.

MBM Kutrimmer 1035 Guillotine Paper Trimmer Review

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

MBM Kutrimmer 1035 Guillotine Paper TrimmerAre you looking for an affordable guillotine paper trimmer that won’t break the bank but will still hold up with constant use? One trimmer you may want to consider getting is the popular MBM Kutrimmer 1035 guillotine paper trimmer. I frequently use this trimmer and this is my review.

MBM manufactures a wide variety of Kutrimmer guillotine trimmers. The model 1035 is the least expensive model offered. It has a 14-inch long cutting length and a cutting capacity of up to 30 sheets of 20# paper. These specifications are more than adequate for most people.

Kutrimmer paper cutters are German engineered and German made. If you’ve ever handled a Kutrimmer trimmer, you’ll notice just how thick the metal components are and just how heavy the trimmer is. The overall build quality on the 1035 is excellent.

You’ll notice, by looking at the picture, that the Kutrimmer 1035 features a grid and a guide. The grid features the most commonly cut paper sizes and the guide slides back and forth. Both of these features make it easy to align and cut documents.

Unlike many of the older guillotine trimmers, the Kutrimmer 1035 has several build in safety features. The most obvious is the built-in plexiglass guard. This guard prevents fingers from being cut or injured. You’ll also notice that there is a paper gauge bar that runs the length of the cutter, only allowing a certain mount of paper to be placed under the blade. This again prevents accidental injuries.

A downside to the Kutrimmer 1035 is that it does not include a clamp. Most of the Kutrimmer trimmers include this feature. The blade on the 1035 is sharp enough that you shouldn’t have any problems. You will only run into issues when cutting slick paper that tends to move around.

The blade on the 1035 is removable and can be re-sharpened, saving you money. Many competitors use disposable blades, requiring you to buy a new blade every time the old one dulls. You shouldn’t have to worry about the blade becoming dull too quickly. The 1035’s blade is made from hardened steel.

Overall I really like the 1035. I think it is perfect for cutting down paper, photographs and other material.

You can find the Kutrimmer 1035 guillotine paper trimmer here. You can find our entire selection of guillotine paper trimmers here.

Top 3 Best Dahle Rotary Paper Trimmers and Cutters

Friday, August 20th, 2010

Dahle Premium Rotary Paper Trimmer Model 400 SeriesSo you need a rotary paper cutter or trimmer and don’t know where to begin? One brand that is a big hit with our customers is Dahle. They make a wide variety of rotary paper trimmers and cutters. I will go over a few of their most popular models.

Dahle is probably best known for their paper cutters, but they also make a wide variety of paper folders and paper shredders. While Dahle make a great selection of stack cutters and guillotine paper trimmers, they are especially popular for their rotary paper trimmers (sometimes called rolling trimmers).

Here are few of their most popular models. I will include a link to each one for easy navigation.

Top 3 Best Dahle Rotary Paper Trimmers and Cutters

  1. Dahle 507, 507K & 508 Rotary Trimmers (Personal Series) – This line of trimmers is especially popular for scrapbooking and for cutting photographs. It is affordable, lightweight and very easy to carry around. These trimmers are capable of cutting up to 7 sheets of paper at a time.
  2. Dahle 550, 552 & 554 Rotary Trimmers (Professional Series) – The Dahle 550 series is probably one of the most popular Dahle rotary trimmers offered. These cutters offer great low to medium-volume cutting capabilities. The blades are self-sharpening and the screen-printed grid makes it easy to align pictures and paper. Most of these cutters have a 20 sheet cutting capacity. The professional line also includes the Dahle 556 & 558 found here. The Dahle 550 series is popular with professional photographers, print shops and graphic design agencies.
  3. Dahle 440, 442, 444, 446, 448 Rotary Trimmers (Premium Series) – The Dahle 440 series of cutters is considered the Dahle’s heavy-duty line of trimmers. Many of these trimmers can handle up to 30 sheets of paper at time. Optional floor stands are available for the two largest models. These trimmers can be table or wall mounted. These rotary trimmer are a popular choice among professional photographers, picture framers, and print & copy shops.

So there you have it, the most popular Dahle rotary paper cutters. Do you have some questions about Dahle rotary paper trimmers? Call one of our specialists at 1-800-658-8788. Have a great day!

Akiles Roll-@-Blade 1815 Rotary Paper Trimmer Review

Thursday, August 12th, 2010

Akiles Roll-@-Blade 1815 Rotary Paper TrimmerAre you cutting photographs, laminated material or other documents that require extreme precision? You probably want the cut to be as straight as possible. Whether you’re tired of your piece-of-junk cutter or are in the market for a new one, you should seriously consider the Akiles Roll-@-Blade 1815 rotary paper trimmer. This is my review.

Akiles is best known for their line of binding machines. It should be known, however, that their cutters aren’t half bad either. With several models to choose from, Akiles paper cutters are known for their build quality and reliability.

The Roll-@-Blade 1815, sometimes called the Roll-A-Blade, is a rotary paper trimmer capable of cutting material up to 18-inches long. It has a maximum cutting capacity of 15 sheets of standard 20# paper. While these dimensions are great, this cutter is best used for its precision.

Akiles Roll-@-Blade 1815 Rotary Paper Trimmer Cutting HeadThe Roll-@-Blade 1815 uses a housed rolling blade that slides along two independent cutting rails. These two rails keep the cutting head stable and solid, making it ideal for cutting photographs, laminated sheets and other material. The difference between a double bar rotary trimmer and a single bar rotary trimmer are like night and day.

As previously mentioned earlier, Akiles is known for their build quality. The Roll-@-Blade 1815 is no exception. This cutter uses a self-sharpening tungsten blade. The housing for the blade is made from solid metal, where many comparable cutters opt to use the cheaper plastic.

This trimmer uses a clear clamping mechanism to keep paper in place while trimming. The fact that the clamp is clear allows the operator to see what is being cut. This style of clamping mechanism does a very good job at keeping the paper steady.

The base of the Roll-@-Blade 1815 uses a grid system for alignment. This makes it easy to align paper. A sliding guide can be loosened and adjusted to line up with the grid. I really like the fact that the grid is in both English and Metric measurements.

Overall I have to say that the Roll-@-Blade is a solid little cutter and I would not hesitate in using in for my own cutting projects. If 18-inches isn’t long enough, the Roll-@-Blade is available in a 36-inch version called the Roll-@-Blade 3615 found here.

You can find the Akiles Roll-@-Blade 1815 rotary paper trimmer here. You can find our entire selection of rotary paper trimmers here.

MBM Destroyit 3105 Cross Cut Paper Shredder Review

Friday, August 6th, 2010

MBM Destroyit 3105 Cross Cut Paper ShredderThe MBM Destroyit line of paper shredders, by Ideal, are very popular with businesses and government. So which Destroyit shredder should you get? One well-rounded model you may want to consider is the Destroyit 3105 cross cut shredder. This is my review.

MBM Destroyit paper shredders (from IDEAL Krug & Priester) are widely used by government and businesses due to their heavy-duty build, longevity and reliability. There are few paper shredders out there capable of competing with Destroyit.

The Destroyit shredder you get will depend on the cutting capacity you need, the security level you need and how many people will be using it. As long as you follow these guidelines, you will be happy with your shredder.

The Destroyit 3105 is a cross cut paper shredder, sometimes referred to as a confetti or particle cut shredder. It is rated as a level 3 shredder, which is the most common type of cross cut shredder used by businesses today. It can be used to destroy and shred most sensitive materials.

The 3105 is ideally used by 8-12 people (a small department) throughout the day, although few more isn’t a big deal. It is able to handle about 30-32 sheets of standard 20# paper at a time and runs at an amazing speed of 30 feet per minute. That is fast for a cross cut shredder of this size.

The blades on this shredder are very impressive. They have been hardened to a point where they can handle staples, paper clips and will even shred credit cards and CDs. This means you won’t have to worry about chipped or damaged shredder blades anytime soon.

The motor is rated as a continuous duty motor. This means it can literally be used constantly for hours without any need to cool down. This is a huge time saver and extremely convenient.

As one of the newer models released by MBM, the Destroyit 3105 is designed to save energy. It will actually go into a standby mode after one hour of inactivity.

One of my favorite features of the Destroyit 3105 is the automatic oiler. I have been telling people for years about how important it is to keep a shredder oiled. The automatic oiler makes oiling easy as it continuously oils the shredder without any special attention (other than making sure the oil reservoir is full).

Overall I am very impressed by the Destroyit 3105. This is a perfect shredder to have in an office and will provide years of hassle-free service.

You can find the MBM Destroyit 3105 cross cut paper shredder here. You can find the strip cut version of the 3105 here. You can find our entire selection of Destroyit paper shredders here.

SircleBind CW-4500 Electric Comb and Wire Binding Machine Review

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

SircleBind CW-4500 Electric Comb and Wire Binding MachineAre you looking for a combination comb and wire binding machine, but aren’t sure which model to go with? One model you may want to consider is the SircleBind CW-4500 electric comb and wire binding machine. This is my review.

The SircleBind line of binding machines, made by Sircle, has only been around for a few years, but they have sent ripples through the binding industry. This is because Sircle binding machines are some of the most affordable today. Not only that, they aren’t half bad looking machines either.

The SircleBind CW-4500 features an electric punch and a manual comb opener and wire closer. The fact that the CW-4500 can bind both comb and wire is pretty cool. I love both formats. This way you don’t have to buy two separate machines.

The machine itself weighs in at 45 pounds, which is pretty hefty. It is, however, still light enough to be used on most desks, work benches and counters. Overall the build quality seems to be pretty nice. It does have a plastic case, but the internal components are metal.

The electric punch on the CW-4500 can punch up to 25 sheets of paper using a 19-ring comb punch and up to 20 sheets of wire in a 3:1 pitch (three holes per inch). Because the CW-4500 has a wire closer and a comb punch, it can also be used to bind books using 19-ring wire, sometimes called wire comb or Spiral-O. The electric punch is very useful and really speeds up the punching process.

Paper punching on the CW-4500 is done vertically, where most binding machines punch paper horizontally. I really like the vertical style punch. This means the edges are almost always squared up and properly aligned, thanks to gravity.

The SircleBind CW-4500 is primarily designed to punch and bind books that are letter size. The CW-4500 includes an adjustable margin depth, which is ideal for binding books of varying thicknesses.

While the CW-4500 isn’t designed for high-volume use, it can be used for low to medium-volume use without any issues. It is great for use in an office or copy shop and the design is easy on the eyes.

I highly recommend the SircleBind CW-4500. The price is right and it is a well-rounded machine.

You can find the SircleBInd CW-4500 electric comb and wire binding machine here. You can find our entire selection of comb, wire and combination binding machines here.

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