The Rhin-O-Tuff 3250CL Coil Binding Machine: A Sleek, Office-Friendly Binding Solution

When selecting a binding machine for office use, it can sometimes be difficult to balance performance with ease-of-use. Many machines that are capable of standing up to office-volume binding require precise adjustments that make them cumbersome in multi-user environments. The Rhin-O-Tuff 3250CL was designed specifically with offices in mind, pairing durable construction and strong components with simplified controls and streamlined operation. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the features of the 3250CL coil binding machine and show why it is so well-suited for office environments.

The Basics

The Rhin-O-Tuff 3250CL is a fully-electric coil binding system, featuring a push button-operated punch and electric coil inserter. This model is compatible with all standard 4:1-pitch binding coils (including Lamination Depot’s high-quality spiral binding coils as well as GBC ColorCoils). The electric punch is designed for use with letter-sized documents (8-1/2″ x 11″), and can punch up to 25 sheets at a time (based on standard 20 lb. paper). The pages of your document are inserted vertically into the punch throat, which helps to ensure precise alignment along the binding edge. The 3250CL’s electric coil inserter is engaged with the push of a button (and automatically turns off after approximately 30 seconds of non-use). The rubber-coated roller grabs onto the plastic coil and advances it through the holes of your document, making inserting fast and efficient.

In addition to its high-quality binding functions, the 3250CL coil binder also comes equipped with a number of features designed to enhance the user experience. This model has a built-in drawer that provides a place to store supplies as well as the included coil crimping tool. Furthermore, the drawer also has guages to measure the document size and the coil size to eliminate the guesswork of selecting the right spine size. An extra-large waste drawer with a small window helps to prevent jams and aids in maintaining the machine.

Benefits of the 3250CL

Like all Rhin-O-Tuff binding machines, the 3250CL is 100% made in the U.S.A. It also features an unmatched 3-year warranty – the only machine in its class with such a robust warranty period. Rhin-O-Tuff is so confident in the 3250CL that if the machine experiences any issues within the warranty period, they will send a new machine immediately – with no waiting period for inspection, servicing, or repair.

Another benefit of the Rhin-O-Tuff 3250CL is that it is designed to be low-maintenance. Though some office-level binding machines require regular maintenance in order to stay at peak operation, the 3250CL has self-lubricating dies that keep the punching smooth – the only maintenance that is necessary is emptying the waste tray.

In Review

The Rhin-O-Tuff 3250CL coil binder is a powerful and easy-to-use coil binding system that is an ideal fit for office environments. It features simple, one-touch operation that allows even the most inexperienced users to achieve professional-quality binding results with minimal training. The 3250CL has a built-in storage drawer that holds the included coil crimping tool as well as a small amount of supplies, and even has special guages to help you determine the best spine size for your book and to measure the diameter of your coil. In addition to its useful features, the 3250CL coil binder also features robust construction that ensures that it will last for years. As with all Rhino-O-Tuff binding machines, this model is made entirely in the U.S. – and it features an industry-leading 3-year warranty period. 

If your business is looking for a coil binding machine that is both durable and user-friendly, then the Rhin-O-Tuff 3250CL coil binding machine is one of your best options.

Electric Business Card Cutting with the Akiles CardMac Power Pack

Designed for low-volume business card slitting, the Akiles CardMac business card cutter series is a cost-effective way to create professional-looking business cards in your home or office. Both the bleed and non-bleed versions are available with manual operation, utlizing an easy-to-turn handle to advance the sheets through and cut them to size. For users who want an even more automated cutting experience, both styles are also offered as electric versions that use a small motor to move paper through the slitters.

While other business card slitters in this category have dedicated manual and electric versions, the CardMac’s unique design uses a “power pack” to turn the manual model into an electric machine. The Akiles power pack can be purchased independently of the card cutting unit, which allows you to transform your manual machine an electric model without having to invest in a brand new machine. Furthermore, you can remove the CardMac power pack at any time to use your machine manually, which is a convenient feature for those who want to have the ease of electric cutting but still want the flexibility of being able to slit cards when an outlet is not available.

Attaching the power pack to your CardMac is fast and easy.

  1. Attach the power pack to the right side of the machine so that the drive shaft on the power pack is aligned to the side gear (where the handle would be attached). You may need to manually rotate the drive shaft slightly so that it aligns with the side gear.
  2. As the power pack is attached to the machine, listen for two clicks to ensure that it has been installed properly. The two clicks indicate that the release switch and safety lock are engaged – the power pack will not operate until the power pack has been fully inserted.
  3. Plug the power adapter into the wall and the power jack into the power pack.
  4. Press and hold the power button (located on the top of the power pack) to activate the motor.

Using the Akiles CardMac Business Card Cutter

The Akiles CardMac business card cutter is a fast and efficient way to transform your letter-sized sheets into standard business cards (2″ x 3-1/2″). The CardMac is available in two varieties – a non-bleed version that cuts 12 business cards per sheet and a bleed version that cuts 10 business cards per sheet. The non-bleed version is intended for designs in which the graphics do not extend to the edge of the cards, while the full-bleed version can create cards that have design elements that reach the perimeter of the card with no margin. Both CardMac styles are capable of slitting cards up to 12 mil (140 lb.) in thickness.

Cutting your business cards to size with the Akiles CardMac takes only four easy steps:

  1. Set up your CardMac by placing the wire guide located at the back of the machine in its upright position. Install your choice of the two handles onto the side gear (located on the right side of the machine). The CardMac comes packaged with both a crank handle and a turn handle, which can be interchanged based on user preference.
  2. Open the flap on the front of the machine.
  3. Insert a single sheet of paper into the rear-most slot. The first cut will cut the sheet into two 11″ x 3-1/2″ strips (plus waste strips), so the paper will need to be inserted vertically with the 8-1/2″ edge first. Adjust the paper guides on both sides to align the paper with the internal blades. Turn the handle to pull the sheet through the machine and cut it to size.
  4. Insert one of the 11″ x 3-1/2″ strips into the front feed tray with the 11″ edge first. Adjust the paper guides on both sides to align the paper with the internal blades. Turn the handle to pull the sheet through the machine and cut the business cards to their finished size. Repeat with the second strip to complete the process.

The Akiles CardMac business card slitter is ideal for home users, small offices, and schools that occasionally need to create short-run business cards. For even easier business card cutting, Akiles also offers an optional power pack that can be attached to either of the CardMac models to transform them into fully-electric business card slitters.

LD-320B Laminator Review: Professional-Quality Results at an Affordable Price

From identification badges to menus to point-of-purchase displays, a pouch laminator can create a wide array of business materials for organizations of all sizes.  Finding the right pouch laminator for your business means striking the right balance between cost and features – especially in today’s economy.  In this post, we take a look at the TL-320B 12″ pouch laminator, which pairs professional-level features with a budget-friendly price. 


The Basics

The TL-320B pouch laminator is a thermal pouch laminator that is capable of laminating pouches ranging from 3 – 10 mils in thickness.  It has a 12.6″ maximum laminating width, which makes it an excellent choice for letter-, legal-, and menu-sized documents.  In addition to having two heated rollers, the LD-320B also has a set of two cold rollers (which help to dissipate heat after laminating to ensure that your document is flat).  The rollers themselves are coated with silicone, which prevents adhesive residue from sticking to them.  Silicone rollers also help to protect your pouches against scuffs and scratches (often left by heat shoe laminators).

To use the TL-320B laminator, begin by adjusting the digital temperature setting based on the thickness of your pouches.  Once the laminator has reached the proper temperature (approximately 3 – 4 minutes), simply insert the pouch containing your document so that it feeds between the rollers.  The LD-320B has a laminating speed of 25.6″ per minute, so it will laminate nearly three letter-sized documents every 60 seconds.  After your laminated document has exited through the back of the machine, allow it to lay flat to cool.  In the case of an accidental misfeed or jam, the LD-320B features a convenient reverse switch that changes the direction of the rollers so that you can remove your document.

Benefits of the LD-320B

While the LD-320B has a number of useful features, the most obvious benefit of this specific model is the price.  Though the LD-320B offers the same laminating speed, laminating width, and laminating thickness range as other office- and professional-quality models, this machine retails for less than half of the price of other comparable units.  It is built for durability – featuring a sleek metal casing and metal internal gears – which means that it can stand up to frequent use in an office environment.  Furthermore, the LD-320 includes a one-year warranty for added peace-of-mind.

In Review

Pouch laminators make versatile additions to practically every office.  They are compact, easy-to-use, and surprisingly affordable – especially in the case of the LD-320B.  This 12″ pouch laminator is capable of laminating full-size menus as well as small identification cards (and everything in-between) in thicknesses ranging from 3 – 10 mils.  It features two heated silicone rollers, two cold rollers (designed to help documents lay flat after lamination), metal casing and gears, a quick, 3 – 4 minute warm-up time, a reverse switch, and an easy-to-adjust digital temperature setting.  Despite being a professional-quality laminator, the TL-320B pouch laminator has a price tag that is less than half of the retail price of comparable models.  If you’re looking for a thermal pouch laminator that is durable, powerful, and affordable, then take a closer look at the LD-320B.

The Akiles FlexiCloser: Automate Your Wire Binding Process

Wire binding has become the preferred binding method for individuals and organizations who deal with sensitive documents – both because it is tamper-resistant and because it is incredibly durable. While there are a number of quality electric punches designed for wire binding, wire closing has traditionally been an entirely manual process.  In this post, we take a closer look at the new Akiles FlexiCloser automatic wire closer and learn more about its unique features.


The Basics

Binding wires (also called “twin-loop wires” or “duo-wires”) are made of metal and are sold in 2:1 and 3:1 pitches.  Generally, the 3:1 pitch binding wires are only available in sizes smaller than 1/2″ and 2:1 pitch wires are offered in sizes between 9/16″ and 1-1/4″, though some of the smaller sizes are offered in 2:1 pitch as specialty items.  Regardless of the pitch pattern used, a wire closer is required in order to close the open wire spine and secure the documents in place.

Nearly all of the wire closers available in the marketplace today are manual, which means that they require the user to make adjusts based on the size of the wire that is being closed and pull a handle to engage the closing channel.  Though this method works well for closing wires, it can be fairly time consuming (especially for high-volume production environments).  The Akiles FlexiCloser not only closes wires electrically with the simple push of a button, but also automatically senses the size of the wire being used and adjusts to ensure a perfect close every time.

Benefits of the FlexiCloser

Since the Akiles FlexiCloser is electric, it helps to reduce operator fatigue and increases production output.  Furthermore, the automatic sensing feature helps to reduce the number of improperly-closed wires, which helps to reduce unnecessary waste.  In addition to the precision offered by the automatic sensing feature, the Akiles Flexicloser can also be fine-tuned using the “Micro-Adjust” capabilities for a professional finish. 

The FlexiCloser offers a wide array of other convenient features, such as a magnetic back to hold the wire spine in place, an easy-to-read LCD control panel, a built-in safety sensor for worry-free closing, and an optional mount that allows the closer to be affixed to the top of the FlexiPunch binding machine.  This unit is specifically designed for heavy-duty, high-volume usage, and has a full one-year warranty.

In Review

When it comes to durability and security in bound documents, wire binding is one of the best options.  The process of manually closing the wires, however, has made many high-output organizations look to less time-consuming binding methods.  The Akiles FlexiCloser electrically senses and closes wires with ease, increasing production output and accuracy.  If you have always wanted to bring wire binding capabilities into your office but have been dissuaded by the manual closing process, or if you already perform wire binding and have been seeking a way to improve your productivity, then be sure to take a closer look at the Akiles FlexiCloser.

MRB-300 Review: An Affordable, Entry-Level Wire Binding Machine

Wire binding is one of the most secure and durable binding styles, making it a popular choice for organizations that bind sensitive documents, such as legal or financial businesses. If your organization is just getting started with wire binding and plans on binding a low volume of documents no larger than 1/2″, then the MRB-300 3:1 Mini Wire Binding Machine may be the right machine for you. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at this compact binding machine to help you determine if it fits your needs.

MRB-300 Wire Binding Machine

The Basics

Like most binding styles, wire binding revolves around two separate processes – punching and binding. In the case of wire binding, there are both 2:1 (two holes per inch) and 3:1 (three holes per inch) punch patterns that correspond to either 2:1 or 3:1 wire styles. The MRB-300 performs both punching and binding, with a 3:1 punch pattern and a punching capacity of six sheets of 20lb paper (which means that six sheets can be punched at once, but larger books can be assembled by punching multiple six-sheet sets). This model is capable of binding documents up to 1/2″ thick, which is between 100-120 20lb sheets.

Benefits of the MRB-300

The MRB-300 3:1 Mini Wire Binding Machine has a number of benefits, the first of which is the attractive price point. While wire binding machines meant for high-volume production environments can be priced in the thousands, this entry-level model costs less than $100. Another great feature of the MRB-300 is the compact size. Because its legs fold into the machine, it occupies much less space than other similar wire binders, so it fits easily into practically any office setting. Finally, the steel construction of this machine makes it more durable than plastic models, and also makes it pleasing to the eye.

In Review

Wire binding is tamper-resistant and durable, making it a frequent choice for secure binding applications such as legal or financial documents. For those organizations seeking an entry-level wire binding machine, the MRB-300 is a great option with its affordable price, compact size, and steel construction. It is capable of performing binds of up 1/2″ and has a 3:1 pitch punching capacity of six sheets. Though it isn’t suitable for high-volume production environments, the MRB-300 Mini Wire Binding Machine is ideal for occasional use in a home or office setting. If you’re looking to create your own wire-bound documents, then be sure to take a look at the MRB-300.

Make a Statement with Pre-Printed Lanyards!

From conventions to classrooms, neck lanyards are one of the most convenient and popular ways to display wearable badges or identification cards. In addition to plain lanyards and custom lanyards, there are also many eye-catching pre-printed lanyards that are available. In this post, we learn more about printed lanyards and discover what benefits they can offer users.



The Basics

Lanyards are commonly made from nylon, polyester, or cotton and feature a variety of attachment options. Swivel hooks and badge clips are among the most popular attachment styles, since they can be used with pre-punched laminating pouches, badge holders, or ID cards to quickly and easily display event credentials. The breakaway attachment, which is a safety feature that allows a small clasp on the lanyard to temporarily open when the lanyard is tugged or pulled, is a common addition to lanyards (especially for use at events with children in attendence) since it reduces the risk of injury or strangulation for the wearer.

Printed lanyards come in a wide selection of styles, ranging from popular awareness lanyards to easy-to-read pre-printed messages. Awareness lanyards, which feature colored ribbon images, are available in a wide array of hues and are ideal for charity events such as fundraising walks or marathons. Patriotic lanyards have flag-inspired or camouflage coloring along with messages such as “Support Our Troops.” Patriotic lanyards are especially popular for holiday events, including Fourth of July, Veterans’ Day, and Memorial Day. The most versatile of all printed lanyard styles have bold, easy-to-read text to help distinguish the wearers at even the most crowded event. These solid-color lanyards are available with a number of pre-printed messages, such as “Volunteer,” “Event Staff,” “Visitor,” and “Contractor.” Because they do not have any logos or event-specific information, these lanyards are great for organizations that hold frequent conferences or events since they can be used again and again.

In Review

Custom-printed lanyards are an powerful tool for promoting brand awareness or sharing a promotional message with attendees of fundraisers, conventions, large-scale meetings, or other company-sponsored events, but not every organization has the budget to create personalized lanyards. Printed lanyards offer a cost-effective alternative to custom lanyards, featuring a wide selection of pre-printed graphics and text in various themes. In addition to being more affordable than customized lanyards, pre-printed lanyards do not require a turnaround time (which can be up to 3 weeks in the case of custom lanyards). Whether you’re holding a marathon or an industry convention, you’re sure to find a lanyard style that suits your needs among the wide variety of printed lanyards available on the market today.

An Overview of Badge Attachments: Magnetic Badge Holders, ID Clips, & Badge Pins

From large-scale conventions to small, independent storefronts, from the classroom to the conference room, there are literally hundreds of applications for badge attachments. Because they have such a wide variety of uses, badge findings are offered in an almost endless amount of styles, ranging from adhesive-backed magnetic bars to swiveling metal clips. In this post, we get to know a few of the most popular varieties of badge attachments and compare their unique features.

The Basics

There are three basic badge finding varieties – ID clips, badge pins, and magnetic badge attachments. All three can be used with laminated documents, PVC identification cards, and plastic badge holders. While some applications may be best suited by magnetic badge attachments (which can affix a badge to clothing without leaving holes or marks in the fabric, making them a popular choice for professional events), other purposes may be better served using a more cost-effective finding like a pin or a clip. With so many styles available, you can easily find a variety that will strike a balance between function and budget.

ID Clips

ID clips utilize small, toothed clamps made of either plastic or metal to attach a badge to a garment. Some styles have an adhesive-backed foam mounted on the back of the clip, which allows it to be stuck to the back of the badge. Self-adhesive ID clips are ideal for use with cards or holders that do not have a pre-punched slot, but they cannot be removed and reused. Strap clips are made with a short PVC strap that has a metal clip affixed to one end of the strap. The strap itself has two small snaps, which allows the strap to be inserted into a slot in the badge or badge holder and then snapped to secure. Once snapped into place, the clip can be used to hang the badge as desired. Since the strap portion can be easily removed and attached to another badge, strap clips make a great choice for use with cards that are frequently updated.

In addition to the standard models, there are a few specialty ID clips that offer other features, such as swiveling clips and built-in pins. Though these varieties tend to cost a bit more than the basic styles, they may be worth the added investment for some applications.

Badge Pins

Badge pins are one of the most basic types of badge finding, featuring an adhesive-backed pin (the base of which can be made from either plastic or metal). While the standard styles offer very basic features, the more advanced varieties can include locking safety clasps (which prevent the pin from releasing) and breakaway ABS bases (a safety feature designed to help the pin break apart when stress is applied, which is required in many industrial settings). Like the adhesive-backed ID clips, badge pins cannot be removed and reused.

Magnetic Badge Attachments

Magnetic badge attachments are the newest type of badge finding, and have quickly gained popularity for a variety of reasons. Instead of relying on a pin or clip to hold a badge in place, magnetic badge attachments use an adhesive-backed piece of metal in conjunction with small, magnetic discs. There are a number of different styles on the market, ranging from round, single-magnet versions to bars that use two or even three magnets to keep the badge secure. Not only are magnetic badge findings strong and easy to apply, but they also prevent holes and creases in garments. They do cost more than ID clips or badge pins, but if you’re looking for a badge finding that is as professional as it is powerful, then they are definitely worth looking into.

In Review

Badge findings are great tools for any organization, because they can transform laminated cards, PVC identification cards, or badge holders into wearable badges in a matter of seconds. Since there are so many applications for badge findings, there is a wide selection of styles to help suit all types of needs. From basic and economical ID clips and badge pins to strong and professional magnetic badge attachments, it’s possible to find an option that will fit both your application and your budget.

Business Card Slitters: An Affordable & Easy to Use Trimming Solution!

Regardless of what industry you’re in, business cards are one of the most cost-effective and popular tools for sharing your business information with clients and prospects. With all of the user-friendly graphic design software available in today’s marketplace, it’s easy to create attractive and professional-looking business cards in your own office using a desktop printer. But once you’ve printed out your custom business cards, how do you cut them down to the appropriate size? In this post, we take a closer look at personal business card slitters, which accurately and efficiently cut letter-sized paper into standard 2″ x 3-1/2″ business cards with minimal effort.

Cardmate_200

The Basics

Personal business card cutters are available with either manual or electric operation, with either standard or full bleed cutting capabilities. Standard business card slitters are used to cut cards that have a blank border around the outer edge of the design, which are designed using a 12-up template (12 cards per sheet). Full bleed cutters are designed to cut cards that have images or text that run to the edge of the card, created using a 10-up template (10 cards per sheet). The resulting cards are borderless, which makes the full bleed cutters an ideal choice for graphics- or photography-based designs. While full bleed cutters can cut standard business cards (created using a 10-up template), standard cutters are not able to cut cards with full bleed designs.

Whether using a manual or electric model, personal business card cutters generally perform a two-step process in order to trim the business cards down to size. On the first pass through the machine, the pre-printed, letter-sized sheet is inserted vertically and trimmed down to two 3-1/2″ x 11″ strips. The strips are then fed horizontally through the machine to be cut into 2″ x 3-1/2″ business cards. The entire two-step process only takes around 10 seconds (depending upon the machine), which means that you can accurately cut up to 72 business cards per minute.

Uses

Personal business card cutters are designed for trimming business cards, but they can also be used to cut a variety of other useful items. If you have a photo-quality printer, you can print sheets of photographs onto photo paper and cut them into individual, wallet-size prints using your business card cutter. You can also create ID badges for trade shows, events, or for use around the office using either a 10-up or 12-up template and trimmed with your business card cutter. Teachers can design their own custom flash cards or other teaching materials with ease using their favorite word processing or graphic design program, and cut them to size using a business card slitter. You can even make your own full-color, business card-sized magnets using printable, magnetic stock and your personal card cutter. If you are using a standard cutter, you will need to leave a blank border around any item that you place into the 12-up template in order for them to be cut properly.

In Review

Business cards are a valuable tool for sharing your name and company information with clients and prospects, but not every organization has the budget to order custom cards from a professional print shop. For small runs of professional-looking business cards on a budget, you can use your favorite graphic design or word processing program along with your color printer and a personal business card cutter to create your own business cards. In addition to making business cards, you can also use the same process to create ID cards, full-color promotional magnets, flash cards and other teaching aids, wallet-size photographs, and many other useful items. Personal business card cutters are a great choice for home offices, small offices, and classrooms, with their ease of use, versatility, and affordable price point.

VersaLam 1300 Review: A Compact Roll Laminator That’s Big on Features

While pouch laminators have been the preferred choice for laminating small documents for many years, a growing number of organizations have been replacing their pouch laminators with compact roll laminators. With sizes from 12″ – 13″ wide, these office-friendly laminators utilize bulk film rolls instead of pre-cut laminating pouches, which can reduce your supply costs. In this post, we take a closer look at the Tamerica VersaLam 1300 – a heavy-duty 13″ roll laminator that can mount, laminate up to 10 mil, and even perform single-sided lamination.

The Basics

The VersaLam 1300 from Tamerica is a 13″ roll laminator that is capable of laminating with film thicknesses ranging from 1.5 to 10 mil. Unlike other comparably-sized roll laminators, the VersaLam has a 3″ core (using core adapters included along with the standard 1″ mandrel), which allows it to use larger film rolls (up to 500′) and a greater variety of film types. Many professional-quality films are only available with a 3″ core, making the VersaLam 1300 the only 13″ laminator able to use specialty films like DIGIKote, Super-Lam, and nylon laminating film. Though its laminating speed is a modest 4′ per minute, it can mount up to 3/16″, has high-quality heated silicone rollers, includes a rolling metal stand, and has a one-year warranty.

Furthermore, the VersaLam 1300 can perform both two-sided and single-sided lamination. It is equipped with decurling bars, which counteract the curling tendencies of documents that are only laminated on one side to help ensure a flat finished product. It also has an independent on/off switch for the bottom roller, so that the heat can be turned off during single-sided lamination.

In Review

Small roll laminators (with a laminating width of 13″ or less) are growing in popularity with schools, copy centers, churches, offices, and even home users, because they have lower supply costs compared with pouch laminators and can often increase output speed (since the documents can simply be fed into the machine instead of being manually inserted into pouches). While there are a number of quality, entry-level machines in this size, there are very few professional-level machines. The VersaLam 1300 is capable of laminating using films up to 10 mil thick, can utilize rolls with both 1″ and 3″ core sizes, mounts up to 3/16″ thick, and includes a heavy-duty, rolling, metal stand. It is also able to perform single-sided and double-sided lamination, thanks to built-in decurling bars and an independent heating switch for the bottom roller.

Though the VersaLam 1300 may be too large of an investment for small offices, it is by far the most affordable machine on the market when it comes to single-sided lamination. It is also the only 13″ machine that uses heated silicone rollers instead of heat shoes (which tend to leave small scratches in the film as it passes over them). If you’re looking for a robust roll laminator that is packed with features but doesn’t occupy a lot of space, then you’ll definitely want to consider the VersaLam 1300.