I had a confused customer ask me recently what the difference was between a VeloBind and a SureBind machine. I can understand the confusion. The machines look the same, have the same specifications and retail for the same amount. So what is the biggest difference between these machines?

The biggest difference between these two machines is nothing. That’s right. VeloBind and SureBind are exactly the same thing. Years ago they used to be competing brands, but GBC now owns both names. Why they continue to use both names is purely for marketing and distribution purposes, but all it seems to have done is create confusion.

Many years ago GBC also used the name QuickBind, which was synonymous for  VeloBind. Here are the VeloBind machines and their SureBind equivalents:

• System One VeloBind = System One SureBind
• System Two VeloBind = System Two SureBind
• System Three Pro Velobind = System Three Pro SureBind

Confusion aside, VeloBind is one nice looking binding format. The machines are easy to use and the bind is solid. You can find our entire selection of GBC VeloBind machines here.

Do you need a binding system that can handle a lot of paper? Perhaps up to three-inches of paper? If you need to securely bind that much paper, you should seriously consider using the VeloBind System Three Pro from GBC. I have used this machine for years now and this is my review.

To begin with, VeloBind in general looks really good. The concept is very simple. You punch the paper (11 total holes), insert the VeloBind strip (11 total prongs), put it in the machine and the machine does the rest. VeloBind is one of the most tamper-proof and secure binding formats available today.

The VeloBind System Three Pro punches the paper, cuts off the excess prongs and uses heat to automatically seal the back strip to the VeloBind prongs. Apart from some manual interaction, the machine is fairly automated. Be aware that the VeloBind System Three Pro is also marketed as the System Three Pro SecureBind. They are both the same machine.

The System Three Pro can bind paper up to three-inches thick, but can also be used to bind smaller and thinner books. The machine will cut off the excess prongs and adjust the strip to the thickness of the book being bound.

The System Three Pro can use 1 x 11, 2 x 11 and 3 x 11 strips. These are one, two and three-inch strips. If you used a three-inch (3 x 11) strip with a ¼-inch thick book, the machine would cut off the excess 2 ¾-inches of prong. You can find our VeloBind supplies here.

Three inches is a lot of paper. A lot of people ask if the VeloBind System Three Pro can really bind this much paper. My answer is “yes, it can.” It does a very good job at binding that much paper. The VeloBind strips keep the paper in place and the end result is extremely secure.

This machine is particularly popular with lawyer’s offices, businesses that deal with contracts, construction companies and other organizations that need to bind a lot of paper. VeloBind is also popular with businesses that need a “tamper proof” binding system. A VeloBound document cannot be tampered with. Pages can be ripped out, but it is obvious.

Although the VeloBind System Three Pro does have a de-bind feature, it doesn’t work that well. It essentially heats up the back strip, making it possible to peel it off. Because the prongs are cut off and sealed with heat in the binding process, the prongs have almost a mushroom-like shape to them. Because the end of the prong is “mushroomed” out, they don’t pull back through the paper easily. Ultimately you will get the VeloBind strip back out of the paper, but the paper won’t look “untouched.”

Also be aware that pages bound with VeloBind will not lay flat. If you need a document that lays flat, you will need to go with a binding format like coil / spiral binding. Coil and spiral binding cannot, however, bind three-inches of paper.

Overall I really like the VeloBind System Three Pro. It is secure, easy-to-use, inexpensive to operate and the end results look professional. In fact, I think VeloBound documents look far more expensive than they really are. You can find our GBC VeloBind System Three Pro here. You can find our entire selection of GBC VeloBind machines here.

Do you need to VeloBind documents but don’t have the budget to buy a GBC VeloBind machine? You may want to consider an alternative. That’s right. Tamerica makes a machine called the V2000-Pro SecureBind that punches the same hole pattern as VeloBind and uses the same supplies as VeloBind. Here is my review of the V2000-Pro SecureBind.

To begin with, Tamerica’s SecureBind is their own take on VeloBind. The V2000-Pro SecureBind is very similar in operation the GBC VeloBind V800 Pro. The biggest difference between the two machines is that the Tamerica V2000-Pro can bind two-inches of paper where the V800 Pro can only bind one inch of paper. Because VeloBind supplies are so readily available, you will have no trouble keeping the V2000-Pro up and running.

The V2000-Pro can punch between 20-22 sheets of standard copy paper at a time. This amount will vary depending on the type of paper you are punching. I recommend starting at about half the maximum punching capacity and working up from there. The V2000-Pro punches a total of 11 holes along an 11-inch side of paper.

Hole punching is completely manual. One thing I really like about the V2000-Pro is the “U” shaped handle. This makes it easier to punch paper with your left or right hand.

Once the holes are punched, an 11-prong SecureBind or VeloBind. Strip can be inserted through the punched holes. A back strip is then placed on the back of the paper. The document is then placed on the V2000-Pro.

Much like the V800 Pro from GBC, the V2000-Pro automatically cuts off the excess prongs and seals them shut using heat. The end result is an extremely secure bind, hence the name SecureBind.

This style of binding is very popular with lawyer’s offices, construction companies and other businesses that bind large volumes of paper. You are able to use your own covers and back sheets.

You can find the Tamerica V2000-Pro SecurBind here. You can find our VeloBind supplies here. You can find our entire selection of VeloBind machines here.

VeloBind machines have been around for some time, yet remain one of the least-known binding formats. I personally find VeloBound documents to be attractive, professional and extremely secure. In fact, I would argue that Velobind machines product one of the most long-lasting and secure binds available today.

VeloBinding machines are often used by lawyers offices, universities and other professions that require the ability to bind a lot of paper at once. The largest GBC VeloBind machine, the System III Pro, can bind up to three-inches of paper. I am not aware of another “element” binding machine capable of doing that.

Most VeloBind machines use an 11-hole binding element. The machine punches 11 holes after which a VeloBinding element (11-prong) is placed through those holes. The document is placed back on the machine where the excess prongs are cut off and heat is used to melt the prongs to the back binding strip. The end result is very secure.

There are three primary GBC VeloBind machines used today. These machines are:

• The GBC VeloBind V800 (aka the System I)
• The GBC VeloBind System II
• The GBC VeloBind System III

The VeloBind system III has a de-VeloBind feature built in.

GBC VeloBind systems can be a bit of an investment up front, but the VeloBind supplies (found here) are very affordable.

If you can’t afford a GBC manufactured machine, you’re in luck. Tamerica, another reputable binding machine manufacturer, makes the Tamerica V2000-Pro SecureBind binding machine.

This machine is comparable to the GBC V800, but with the ability to bind two-inches of paper. GBC brand VeloBind supplies will work fine with the Tamerica V2000-Pro. You can find the Tamerica V2000-Pro SecureBind here.

If you are in the market for a binding machine, you should definitely consider looking at a GBC VeloBind machine.