High security paper shredders, while not common in offices, are abundant in different makes and models. Most military and government agencies that use Level 6 shredders typically have to sacrifice the ability to shred CDs, DVDs or Blu-rays when using a high security shredder. A new shredder from Formax, the FD 8730HS (found here), has both high security shredding capabilities as well as the ability to destroy optical media.

At ABC Office we currently offer nearly 3-dozen different makes and models of high security paper shredders. While most of the shredders we sell are top-notch products, I am personally fond of Destroyit, Dahle and Formax shredders. Simply put, they are all solid machines. Formax, in particular, is such a great deal right now. Formax paper shredders have one of the best reputations with our customers.

The new Formax FD 8730HS is a unique beast. To begin with, ths NSA evaluated shredder can cross cut shred paper in a Level 6 pattern. This ends up being 1/32″ x 3/16″ (0.8mm x 4.8mm). This is as good as it gets when it comes to shredding top-secret information. A Level 6 cut document cannot be put back together, hence the title high security shredding. This shredder meets NSA/CSS specification 02-01 for Level 6 shredding.

The FD 8730HS has a very nice sheet capacity, capable of shredding 14-15 sheets of paper at a time. Considering the tiny cut pattern and the amount of cutting involved, that is a great sheet capacity. To compliment this capacity, the FD 8730HS is equipped with a generous 31-gallon bin. It takes a lot of shredding to fill a 31-gallon bin with paper. The feed opening measures in at 9 3/8″, which is wide enough to handle most paper.

Most military and government entities that destroy paper also need to destroy sensitive records stored on optical media. An independent slot, which measures in at 4 7/8″ inches, can be used to shred and destroy CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, credit cards and even CR-80 ID badges (30 mils thick). Having this independent slot eliminates the need to have two different shredders. The FD 8730HS even includes an independent 18.5-gallon bin to catch and separate the optical media particles from the paper particles. This is ideal for sorting and for recycling purposes.

The FD 8730HS keeps the operator in the know during the entire shredding process. The control panel lets the operator know exactly how much stress the motor is under by means of load indicator lights. The control panel also has a series of LED lights that let you know when the door is open, bag is full, when a jam occurs and much more.

The feature that I really like, which is uncommon in most paper shredders, is the automatic oiler. An oiler lubricates the intricate cutting blades as needed, which is a very nice feature to have on hand. It is well known and documented that oiled paper shredders last significantly longer than non-oiled shredders.

This shredder is fast, reliable and is a great value. As is the case with all Formax shredders, the FD 8730HS features durable metal construction, pristine cutting blades and the best electronics available for paper shredders.

You can find the Formax FD 8730HS high security shredder here and our entire selection of high security paper shredders here. Please feel free to contact one of our experts at 1-800-658-8788 with any questions.

Pressure sealers save money by eliminating the need for envelopes and creating a tamper-proof letter that can be used for mailing bills, invoices, checks and much more. One of the most affordable pressure sealers money can buy is the Formax FD 1200 AutoSeal. Being that this machine is so affordable, will it get the job done? I will answer that question and more in this article.

To start off this article, I would like to explain why Formax is considered to be such a reputable manufacturer. Formax, based out of Dover, NH, has been making envelope stuffing machines (aka folder inserters) for over a decade now. They are also well known for their paper folding machines and paper shredders (many of which are made in the USA). These machines are considered to be the best in the industry. As you might expect, their pressure sealers are considered to be equally reputable.

The FD 1200 is the least expensive entry-level pressure sealer Formax offers. While it isn’t the most robust machine offered, it is very good at what it does. It can be used to fold and seal invoices, notices, checks, grade reports, rebates, utility bins, basic forms, PIN mailers, direct mailers, W-2s and much more. It can be used to fold and seal pressure seal paper up to 8 ½” x 14″ in size.

While perhaps not the fastest pressure sealer out there, it can be used to fold and seal forms at a speed of about 35 sheets per minute. This is about 1 every 2 seconds. It has a duty cycle of 10,000 forms per month, which is pretty good considering the size and price.

Having set up this machine myself, I can vouch for how easy it is to get up and running. It has two folding plates that are set up much like a manual paper folding machine. By adjusting 2 folding plates, this machine can be set up to fold and seal paper in a Z fold, C fold, uneven Z, uneven C, half and custom fold patterns. Once the folding plates are set, getting the machine started is as simple as pressing a big green button.

This machine is insulated to help dampen sound, but it will still make noise. I would consider it to be slightly louder than your typical paper folding machine. This is due in part to the heavy steel rollers that are literally bursting open glue pockets found in pressure seal paper.

The build quality of this pressure sealer is exceptional. It weighs 55 pounds and is made out of all metal construction. It definitely has some heft to it, but it can be used on most desks and tables.

Remember, while this is a great machine, it is designed for entry-level applications. As of the writing of this article, Formax offers well over a dozen different models of pressure sealers, with some capable of folding and sealing over 40,000 sheets per hour. That should give you an idea of the range of machines that are out there.

You can find the Formax FD 1200 here and our entire selection of Formax pressure sealers here. If you have questions about using a pressure sealer, which machine you need or even where to find supplies, please feel free to contact one of our mailing specialists at 1-800-658-8788.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have 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:

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.

An envelope is just an envelope, right? Is there really that much difference from one to another? While on the surface business envelopes may seem as simple as a #9 or a #10 size, there is actually a lot more involved than you might think. A few of those differences include where the flap is located and where the windows are found.

One common question is “What is a reverse flap envelope?” Reverse flap envelopes, also known as reverse fold envelopes, have the folded flap on the bottom of the envelope rather than the top. There are a lot of reasons for this, with the primary reason being mass mailing and use with folder inserter machines.

This is an example of a reverse flap envelope:

Reverse flap envelopes have mail inserted from the bottom rather than the top. The orientation of the address window is typically on the left side of the envelope. Bottom flap envelopes, due to the design and orientation, flow and run much better in envelope inserting machines. While most folding and inserting machines, such as those by Formax, can use a standard top flap envelope, bottom flap envelopes are preferred.

Once the bottom flap has been sealed shut, the envelope looks almost identical to a standard top flap envelope. To the customer, or envelope recipient, it is just a standard envelope. These types of envelopes are perfect for mailing bills, receipts, invoices, promotional material and more.

You can find our entire selection of Formax folder inserters here and Relyco business envelopes here.

Have you ever wondered how businesses are able to fold, insert and mail envelopes on such a wide scale? One of the tools they use is a folder inserter, often called an envelope-stuffing machine. One of the most popular models used today is the Formax FD 6202 folder inserter. We just added a video demo of it to our site, which shows in great detail exactly how it works.

The FD 6202 is available in several different configurations, depending on how many sheets you need inserted into an envelope, and whether or not you need to include an insert or a BRE (business reply envelope). The machine itself, which I have personally used on many occasions, is an amazing piece of engineering. The machine is quiet, fast and takes what would take one individual 30-60 seconds and does it in 1-2 seconds.

This machine essentially takes a sheet of paper, folds it (letter, single, double parallel or accordion) and inserts it into an envelope. It even seals the envelope shut by running the glue on the flap of the envelope over a water-coated surface and folding it shut. This is a great system for mailing invoices, bills, promotional material, bank statements and much more. It can even be integrated with an OMR (optical mark recognition) reader.

This is a video demo of the Formax FD 6202:

The FD 6202 automatic envelope-stuffing machine operates at a speed of about 2,200 pieces per hour and has a monthly duty cycle of 12,000 sheets per month. Larger Formax machines are available for higher volumes. The machine itself is extremely easy to set up thanks to a simple digital interface.

You can find the Formax FD 6202 folder inserter here and our entire selection of envelope folding, stuffing and inserting machines here.

If your business handles or deals with mailing bills, rebates, invoices, statements and other documents, you may want to consider using a pressure sealer like the Formax FD 2030 AutoSeal. This amazing pressure sealer is quick, fast and easy t operate. It can be used with 8 ½” x 11″ and 8 ½” x 14″ pressure seal forms and doesn’t require an envelope. A few months ago I got a chance to play around with the FD 2030 and we shot a video demo of it.

If you’re not familiar with pressure sealers, you’re probably not alone, however, you have probably received or handled mail sealed using a pressure sealer. Pressure sealers take special pressure seal paper and fold it shut. This special paper, from manufactures like Relyco, has tiny pressure activated pockets of glue along the seams. This glue is activated as it runs through the Formax FD 2030. The glue bursts and quickly seals the sheet of paper shut.

A pressure sealed form is tamper proof and can only be opened by tearing off perforated margins and opening perforated seams. Pressure seal paper is completely laser printer and copy machine compatible, and because no envelope is involved, pressure seal forms are actually less expensive to use / mail than traditional envelope-based mail.

The Formax AutoSeal FD 2030 operates at a whopping speed of 9,000 sheets per hour and is designed to fold and seal up to 75,000 pressure seal forms per month. Having handled this machine myself, I can tell you that the build quality is extremely high. Just about everything in it, including the shell, is made from metal. It is made in the USA.

This is a video demo of me using the Formax AutoSeal FD 2030 pressure sealer:

I cannot stress how easy this machine is to use. It takes less than a minute to set up and the end results look profession and accurate. The control panel doesn’t take a rocket scientist to operate and the feed tray is as easy to use as a copy machine.

You can find the Formax AutoSeal FD 2030 here and our entire selection of pressure sealers here. I understand that this may not answer all your questions, so please feel free to call us at 1-800-658-8788 with any questions.

If you’re in the market for a solid and reliable paper shredder, there has never been a better time than now. Formax, one of the top 5 best office paper shredder brands around, is offering free shipping on their ENTIRE line of paper shredders for the month of September. This will save you money for multiple reasons.

To begin with, the free shipping is a huge savings alone. Many of these high-end paper shredders have to ship via freight truck. With gas prices as high as they are, freight shipping isn’t exactly cheap. This should easily save you hundreds of dollars on each of our Formax paper shredders.

Another reason why this will save you money is because you are probably now more likely to buy a Formax paper shredder. Because Formax paper shredders are some of the best available, this means they will last you for years to come. As a result, you won’t be buying a new paper shredder every few months or every year, saving you even more money.

Having used Formax paper shredders for years myself, not to mention we use them here at ABC Office for our own paper shredding needs, I can attest to the fact that Formax paper shredders are solid. They feature excellent metal construction, hardened steel blades and solid electronics. You won’t be disappointed.

You can view our entire selection of Formax paper shredders here. Good luck and happy shopping!

If you’re shopping around for a pressure sealer or envelope-stuffing machine, there are a few reasons why you may want to consider using Formax product. To begin with, Formax products simply have a great reputation. Many of their machines, including their pressure sealers and paper folding machines, are made in the USA. While these are all great reasons to get a Formax office machine, the warranty and initial purchase perks are some best in town.

Formax goes above and beyond when it comes to customer satisfaction. Many Formax products feature free on-site installation and on-site training. This is a huge benefit and ensures that your employees are using the products correctly, right out of the box. How many other manufacturers include that?

Installation and training are covered on:

• Pressure Sealers (FD 1500, FD 1500 Plus, FD 200, FD 2030, FD 2052, FD 2000IL, FD 2052IL, FD 2094, FD 2084, FD 2200-10 and FD 2200)
• Folder Inserters (FD 6100, FD 6202, FD 6304, FD 6402, FD 6602, FD 6900, FD 7100)

Not only do these models feature on-site installation and training, but they also carry a 90-day service agreement and a one-year warranty. How many other manufacturers offer this much customer care on an order? Not many.

You can view our entire selection of Formax pressure sealers here and Formax folder inserters here. Please feel free to speak with one of our Customer Service Reps with any questions regarding Formax and their warranty.

A 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.