If you’re not a bindery, or an office that binds dozens to hundreds of books a day, you may be fine with a binding machine that’s a little lower key. This may be 1-10 books a day. If this sounds like you, consider looking at the Intelli-Bind IB150 comb binding machine from Intelli-Zone. This is my review.

Intelli-Bind (by Intelli-Zone) is one of the most affordable and feature-per-dollar lines of binding machines available. Intelli-Bind binding machines cover the comb, wire and comb binding machine lines of bookbinding.

The Intelli-Bind IB150 is one of the cheapest (as in price) binding machines available online. As of this review, it costs just $52. While inexpensive, it can still be used to bind a 2″ book. It really finds its place with those who only need to bind a few books a day.

Using the Intelli-Bind IB150 is pretty straightforward. Take your paper, place it in the horizontal punch and pull the handle. The IB150 can punch 12 sheets of paper, although I would probably keep that around 6-8 sheets. Once the holes are punched, you can place your comb element in the comb opener fingers. Once the comb is opened, your punched paper can be inserted and the comb can then be closed. Voila! You have a bound booklet.

The Intelli-Bind IB150 can be used to bind presentations, reports, booklets and more. I have seen people use the IB150 to create cookbooks, phone directories, promotional literature and more. While the punching capacity isn’t extremely high, it can be used to punch report covers, clear covers and card stock (1 sheet at a time).

The Intelli-Bind IB150, unlike many similarly priced machines, can be used by lefties or righties. This is because it utilizes a “U” shaped handle that can be used from just about any angle. It can also be used by both hands, for faster paper punching. Just be careful that you don’t get over confident and start punching more paper than the machine can handle. That’s a quick rout to a broken machine.

This machine is fairly light, weighing in at 13 pounds shipped. What’s nice about the weight is that this machine can easily be picked up and moved around. This is especially nice if you need to store the binding machine and break it out every so often for the occasional job.

I have to say that I wish it had disengageable punching pins, however, if you are only binding letter-size presentations (8 ½” x 11″) you should be fine. It is designed to work with 19-ring plastic binding combs.

The build quality on the IB150 is actually pretty good. While it does have a plastic shell, a lot of the internal components are made out of metal. If treated well, and used to bind high-volumes of books, this machine should easily hold up for some time. I also have to mention that it looks pretty nice as well.

You can find the Intelli-Bind IB150 comb binding machine here and our entire selection of Intelli-Bind book binding machines here. We also carry a great selection of other binding machines found here.

Feel free to call us at 1-800-658-8788 with any book binding questions.

If you’re looking for a book binding machine, you probably want to get one from a manufacturer that has a good reputation. While there is a lot of information out there on the best cars, Blu-ray players and laptops, there is little information regarding the best book binding machines. I have been using, selling and working with binding machines for over a decade. I have compiled a list of the best binding machine brands.

As previously mentioned, I have a lot of experience with book binding machines. This includes comb, wire, coil and many other formats. I have to admit that while I have used some absolute amazing binding machines, I have used a lot of lemons as well. I will explain why these binding machines brands are the best and why you may want to consider using them.

Best Book Binding Machine Brands

1. Akiles Binding Machines – Akiles is probably one of the best and most reputable manufacturers of binding machines. They manufacture the WireMac, CoilMac and MegaBind book binding machines along with several other models. Akiles machines are known for their durable “metal” construction and ability to hold up after years of rigorous use.
2. Intelli-Bind Binding Machines - Intelli-Bind, from Intelli-Zone, has been around for about a year and has developed a reputation for offering extremely affordable machines with many high-end features. Most of Intelli-Bind’s coil binding machines feature electric coil inserters. Other binding formats (coil, comb & wire) often feature disengageable punching pins and much more. These machines have a great track record with customers.
3. Renz Binding Machines – Renz book binding machines feature elegant designs and the ability to handle higher-volume binding operations. They are probably best known for their high quality wire binding machines. Many publishers, copy centers and organizations like to use their machines for commercial wire binding operations.
4. Tamerica Binding Machines - Tamerica (sometimes called Tahsin) offers a great line of comb, wire and coil binding machines. These machines are affordable and generally fall in the range of low to medium-volume book binding.
5. SircleBind Binding Machines - SircleBind offers a great selection of comb, wire and coil binding machines. Having used these machines myself, I have to say that make a good low to medium-volume machine. The only thing I don’t like about their machines is there is a lot of plastic involved in the manufacturing process. That said, they have a good reputation with our customers.
6. GBC Binding Machines – GBC offers a wide range of book binding machines, from coil to VeloBind. I have to say that it is hit and miss with GBC. I really like their VeloBind line of machines and really like their GBC C800 Pro comb binding machine, which is a modification of a very popular Ibico binding machine.

I hope this list helps you find a good machine. You can find our entire line of book binding machines here.

If you have questions, or simply need more information, feel free to speak with one of our binding machine specialists by calling 1-800-658-8788.

Most coil binding machines look the same. This isn’t a bad thing, although quality does vary from one model to another. What most people want in a coil binding machine is simplicity, durability and quality. You get all three of these features in the new Intelli-Bind IC21E electric coil binding machine from Intelli-Zone. This is my review.

Intelli-Bind is a well-known brand of book binding machines, comparable to Tamerica and Akiles in functionality and quality. They currently make coil, comb and wire binding machines. Intelli-Bind is most known for its value. You can get a lot of machine for very little money.

The Intelli-Bind IC21E is a very unique coil binding machine, much different in appearance and use than comparable machines. To begin with, it doesn’t look like a binding machine. Having used this machine myself, I have to say that it almost looks closer in appearance to a printer. Simply put, it blends in well with existing office equipment.

The IC21E is an extremely compact and unobtrusive machine. Most binding machines feature a horizontal punch accompanied by a handle. If equipped, disengageable dies are usually exposed and in the open. The IC21E has a paper punch that literally folds up when not in use. When folded up, the disengageable dies are also covered. When ready, the punch opening can be pulled down and binding can begin. Not only is this design sleek, it helps keep dust out of critical machine components.

This binding machine features an electric punch that can handle up to 20 sheets of paper at a time. Because it is electric, punching capacity doesn’t depend on the strength of the operator. Simply insert your paper and press the punch button. In a few seconds, the paper will be punched and you can move along to the next stack of paper.

The electric punch punches paper in a 4:1 pitch hole pattern. This hole pattern is the most common used today, with supplies readily available. This equals out to 4 holes per inch of paper. Each of the 46 punching pins can be individually disabled, allowing for precise and professional custom book sizes. This also helps cut down on half-punched holes.  The finished results look great.

The punch on the Intelli-Bind IC21E can be easily adjusted to accommodate various book thicknesses. This is due in large part to the adjustable margin depth. A dial, located on the right side of the machine, makes margin depth adjustments extremely easy. Directly below the margin depth dial is the waste paper tray.

Once paper has been punched, coils can quickly be inserted through the holes by means of a built-in electric coil inserter. Simply manually feed the coil through the first 3-4 holes and let the inserter do the rest. The inserter spins coils through the holes in just seconds. Once inserted, excess coil can quickly be cut and crimped.

From start to finish, books can be bound on the IC21E in just minutes. It can bind books ranging in thickness from about ¼” up to 1 ¼”. It is versatile, practical and bet of all it’s affordable. I highly recommend this machine for medium-volume coil binding operations.

You can find the Intelli-Bind IC21E electric coil binding machine here and our entire selection of coil binding machines here.

While manually punching paper isn’t that bad, it can become tiresome when done on a large scale. If you are punching hundreds of sheets of paper per day, you may want to consider using a machine like the Intelli-Bind IM1000 electric binding punch. I recently had a chance to play around with this machine and shoot a video demo.

A question I often get is, “Why would I want a binding punch?” That’s a good question. The best answer I can provide is “volume.” Using an independent binding punch, along side an existing binding machine, can dramatically increase your punching capacity and output book binding volume.

The Intelli-Bind IM1000 is available upon purchase with your choice of punching die. This may be comb, wire, coil or coil in your choice of pitch. Other dies can be purchased. Because the dies are interchangeable, the Intelli-Bind IM1000 can easily be used along side just about any comb, wire or coil binding machine.

I was surprised how easy the IM1000 was to use. An included foot pedal makes hands free punching easy. If you don’t like using a foot pedal, you can also activate the electric punch by pushing a button found on the front of the machine.

The IM1000 is rated for punching up to 25 sheets of paper. I decided to put that to the test and it worked great. You can see a video demo of me using the Intelli-Bind IM1000 electric binding punch here.

So there you have it! The Intelli-Bind IM1000. This binding machine is affordable, powerful and excellent to have on hand for high-volume binding projects. You can find the Intelli-Bind IM1000 here and our entire selection of binding punches here.

There are several tips and tricks out there for speeding up binding operations, but one tool that seems to speed up the process the most is using an independent binding station. These stations may be a comb opener, a wire closer, an electric coil inserter or a combination of all three. The Intelli-Bind 910 binding station, from Intelli-Zone, features all three.

I have personally used this machine and have to say that I’m impressed with just how easy it is to use. I especially like the fact that it can be used alongside a comb, wire or coil binding machine. The build quality is great!

The wire closer is located on the back of the machine, the comb opener is in the middle and the electric coil inserter is located on the front. Using this binding station, along side a binding machine, can easily double your binding output.

Here is a great video demonstration of the Intelli-Bin 910 binding station.

Pretty slick….right? This triple format binding station costs less than most single-purpose binding stations. You can find the Intelli-Bind 910 binding station here and our entire selection of binding machines here.

Do you or your business wire bind dozens, perhaps even hundreds of books per day? If so, you probably require the use of a heavy-duty binding machine. If you need to upgrade, or are simply in the market for a new binding machine, you may want to consider the Intelli-Bind I23W electric wire binding machine from Intelli-Zone. This is my review.

Wire binding is available in several different hole patterns, each with their own unique look. The hole pattern you use will depend on how your machine is built. The two most common hole patterns are 2:1 pitch (2 holes per inch) and 3:1 pitch (3 holes per inch).

The Intelli-Bind I23W has two different punching dies, allowing the operator to punch and bind in 2:1 or 3:1 wire. This is a huge benefit and is like having two machines in one. The format you use will depend on the look you prefer and the thickness of the book. A 2:1 pitch can bind a thicker book.

Each of these punching dies is electric, capable of punching up to 20 sheets of paper at a time. If you have ever manually punched paper for wire binding, over a dozen or more books a day, you can probably appreciate the convenience an electric punch provides. Simply place your paper in the machine and press the button located on the top of the machine. The I23W punches though paper without a problem.

The front of the I23W features a wire holder. This holder keeps a wire binding element in place while you add paper to it. Once all your paper is on the spine, it can be removed from the wire holder for placement in the wire closer.

Closing the wire is one of the most important parts of wire binding. If you don’t close the wire enough, pages will fall out. If you over-close the wire, pages won’t turn well and the book looks unprofessional.

The Intelli-Bind I23W has a special scale that makes wire closer adjustment easy. Simply locate the diameter of the wire you are using on the scale and adjust the dial accordingly. Once set, closing the wire is a piece of cake. While the wire closing is done manually, it literally takes seconds and requires very little manual effort.

Now let’s get to the build quality. Having handled this machine myself, I can vouch for the fact that it is made out of all-metal construction. It weighs in at 85 pounds shipped, so you may need up to 2 people to safely move it. While it is a heavy piece of machinery, most desks and tables will be able to support it.

For a heavy-duty wire binding machine, I have to say that the I23W is probably one of the most affordable machines out there. It is easy to use, extremely durable and should be able to easily keep up with your daily book binding needs.

You can find the Intelli-Bind I23W electric wire binding machine here and our entire selection of electric wire binding machines here. Feel free to call us at 1-800-658-8788 to speak with one of our book binding machine experts. Have a great day!

If you’re at home, a scrapbooker, a hobbyist or a small business, you may need an extremely affordable comb-binding machine. While there are some really nice machines out there, most cost several hundred dollars or more. If you’re daily binding volume is small, you should consider the Intelli-Bind IB100 comb binding machine from Intelli-Zone.

To begin with, the Intelli-Bind IB100 only costs $45. You’ll be hard pressed to find a high-quality comb-binding machine for that amount. Most sub $50 machines are garbage. The IB100, on the other hand, is a nicely built machine.

While the IB100 isn’t designed for hundreds of binding jobs a day, it is perfect for binding a few books a day. It has a 6-8 sheet punching capacity, depending on the paper thickness, and can bind a book up to 2” thick. This means you can easily bind a small cookbook or a larger photo album. The possibilities are pretty nice.

I have personally unboxed, assembled and used this comb binding machine. The quality is superb, especially for this price range. Unlike many other comb binding machines in this price range, the IB100 has a full-length lever for punching paper and opening combs. This makes comb binding much easier.

The IB100 is in stock and usually ships out the same day an order is placed. You can find the Intelli-Bind IB100 comb binding machine here and our entire selection of manual comb binding machines here. Enjoy!

Do you own a manual comb binding machine or are in the marketing for a new comb binding machine? Consider going electric! Electric comb binding machines can double or triple your book binding speed. One affordable option you should probably consider is the Intelli-Bind IB850 electric comb binding machine. This is my review.

The Intelli-Bind IB850 comb binding machine is made by Intelli-Zone. Intelli-Zone currently makes over a dozen different comb, wire and coil binding machines. The IB850 is one of two electric comb binding machines made by Intelli-Zone.

The IB850 is what’s categorized as an electric comb binding machine. It has a foot pedal that activates an electric motor that punches the paper. I personally like the foot pedal as it allows for hands-free operation. This means you can easily keep paper firmly in place during the entire punching process.

The motor is capable of punching up to 20 sheets of paper at a time, which is impressive. As with any binding machine, however, I still recommend scaling that back (perhaps by 5 sheets). I firmly believe that not maxing out the punching capacity on a binding machine will help significantly prolong the life of the machine.

While the Intelli-Bind IB850 is electric, it is still pretty compact. The machine weighs in at 38 pounds shipped. A lot of the weight is from the heavy-duty metal components used in construction. It is heavy enough that you don’t want to move it around every day, but it isn’t bad enough that it can’t be moved.

The IB850 is designed to punch and bind paper up to about a letter-size sheet of paper, although the maximum punching length is officially 11.7 inches. All of the punching dies can be disengaged, thanks to selectable punching dies. This is a huge advantage when it comes to binding custom-sized books and smaller sheets of paper.

The Intelli-Bind IB850 is capable of binding books up to 2″. The typical book, that is about ¼” thick, takes only a couple of minutes to bind on this machine. It can easily be used in schools, churches and most businesses.

The price to value ratio on the IB850 is amazing. As of writing this article, the IB850 costs just under $300, which is unprecedented for an electric punch comb binding machine.

If you need a machine for medium-volume book binding, I highly recommend the IB850. The warranty is great, manufacturer support is excellent and it is inexpensive and affordable.

You can find the Intelli-Bind IB850 electric comb binding machine here and our entire selection of Intelli-Bind book binding machines here. Our entire selection of binding machines can be found here.

Are you looking for an affordable coil binding machine that won’t break the bank, but still offers the quality you’re looking for? While this may sound like a difficult task, there are a few machines out there that fit the bill. One model you may want to seriously look at is the Intelli-Bind IC410 coil binding machine from Intelli-Zone. This is my review.

To begin with, the Intelli-Bind IC410 coil binding machine is one of the heaviest coil binding machines in its class and price range. Having handled this machine myself, I have to say that it feels and handles a lot like an Akiles machines, and Akiles machines have a great reputation.

The IC410 weighs in at 35 pound shipped. The heaviest part of the machine is where the punching die is located, which is a good thing. The punching dies, which do most of the work, have a very solid feel to them. The outer casing and internal components on the IC410 are made from metal.

The punching pins are capable of punching up to 18 sheets of paper at a time. The handle, as you can see from the picture, is leveraged in such a way that punching is very easy. It can also be used to punch card stock, laminated paper, clear covers and more. Just remember to scale back the amount of sheets being punched when punching thicker paper.

The IC410 uses a 4:1 pitch punching patter, which is four holes per inch. This is the most common hole pattern used in coil binding and supplies are very easy to find. This hole pattern allows the IC410 to bind books up to about 1 ¼” thick.

The Intelli-Bind IC410 features disengageable (selectable) punching pins. This makes it easier to punch paper without ending up with half-punched holes. My only complaint is that I wish it came with more. Right now it features a total of 6 selectable pins.

One of my favorite features on the IC410 is the electric coil inserter. This inserter is turned on by pressing a button. The inserter is quiet, powerful and quick. Having used coil binding machines with and without inserters, I have to say that an inserter really increases the coil binding speed. They are really convenient to use.

The IC410 is rated for low to medium-volume binding. This means you can use it throughout the day, but because it doesn’t have an electric punch, it probably isn’t best for high-volume binding.

I have to say, for a manual punch machine, that it is one of the easier coil binding machines I have used. From start to finish, I can bind a ¼” thick book in a minute. Speeds vary on user experience.

In conclusion, I highly recommend the Intelli-Bind IC410. It is solid, features great build quality and the price is very affordable for what you get.

You can find the Intelli-Bind IC410 coil binding machine here. You can find our entire selection of coil binding machines here.

I had a chance today to play around with one of the newest additions to our coil binding lineup. This new machine is the Intelli-Bind IC210 coil binding machine from Intelli-Zone. After having played around with it for some time, I decided it was time to sit down and write a review. Enjoy!

I have since grabbed the Intelli-Bind IC210 and have it sitting here on my desk. To begin with, it is made out of metal components, but doesn’t have the heft of higher-end Akiles machines. It weighs in at 17 pounds shipped. This is light enough to be used on most desks and tables.

The IC210 is rated to be able to punch 10-15 sheets of paper at a time. I have personally tried the maximum 15 sheets and was able to do it, but it took some effort and I don’t consider it to be practical.

I would personally scale the punching capacity back to about 10 sheets at a time. This is the case with most binding machines. The maximum amount listed on a binding machine often requires more effort than the typical person would like to use.

The overall look of the machine is very nice. It features a black and grey color combination that blends in nicely with existing office equipment.  The grey color has a metallic reflective quality to it.

The IC210 does not have selectable disengaging punching pins, so it is most ideal for punching A4, A5 and 8 ½” x 11″ letter-size paper. Binding smaller custom-size booklets may result in half-punched holes. An adjustable margin depth makes it easy to adjust how far into the paper the holes are punched. This is especially nice for punching and binding books of varying thicknesses.

Having used this myself, I have to say that I would rate it for light-volume use. It isn’t designed to bind hundreds of books a day, but rather a few here and there. In all honestly, it is pretty good for the price.

You’ll have to pay several times more to get a machine that can be used for medium to high-volume use. The Intelli-Bind IC410 is a great example of a machine designed for medium to higher-volume binding. This is a great option if you need a little more binding capacity.

For the price, and considering it has an electric coil inserter, I consider the IC210 to be a great deal. If you plan on using it to bind the occasional report, presentation or booklet, you won’t be disappointed.

You can find the Intelli-Bind IC210 coil binding machine here. You can find our entire selection of coil binding machines here.