Which Binding Machine Is Best For You And Why
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Do you regularly produce printed documents and sales materials for your
business that need an extra touch to make them look totally professional? Would
you like to handle more of your company's printing in-house instead of paying to
outsource the work to another company? Investing in a binding machine will turn
the printed products you produce for your clients and customers into
professional-looking material that will give your business the edge.
So, how can a binding machine prove useful to you in your particular line of
business? It can be used to professionally bind a range of documents that
include policy documents, brochures, contracts, training manuals and quotations
of work for clients. Binding a large document makes it easier to use and consult
regularly, as well as keeping all the pages together and in the order intended.
There are many different types of binding machines and the best one for you
will be dependent on your particular office and business needs. Do you require a
binding machine that can bind mass copies of documents for employees, or a
machine that will create a high-end look for your sales materials? Furthermore,
some documents need to be bound to travel well by post, while others may
comprise part of a formal presentation that you would like to look good on a
shelf in your office.
Other points to consider when researching your binding machine purchase
include whether or not you will need to bind documents with a few or several
pages and whether you will need to use your binding machine frequently during
each working day, or if it is going to a be a purchase intended for occasional
and light use. It can be a poor investment to buy a lower capacity and strength
binder that doesn't meet your business needs and will soon to be replaced.
Equally, you do not want to spend money on a binder with specifications that far
exceed your requirements and will, in fact, be used infrequently.
Documents are bound for a number of reasons and taking some time to consider
what your particular needs are in terms of binding will also help you when you
come to evaluate which is the best type of binding machine for your needs. If
you are looking to bind documents to keep them safely stored together, the
quality of the presentation of your bound document is less of a factor than if
you are creating sales brochures and other all-important documents to market and
document your business to clients.
The variety of ways to bind a document are several, with comb-binding being
the most widespread and well-known binding format. Comb binders are quick and
easy to use and are very popular in schools, colleges and small businesses. Comb
binders also have the added attraction of being hard-wearing and reusable and
comb binding machines are available in both manual and electric options, with
the type of comb binder you choose being dependent on the volume of documents
you will need to bind.
Standard comb binding machines work by punching a row of 19 holes down the
longer side of your A4 document. You then use the machine to open the plastic
comb, after which you insert the plastic comb into the pre-punched holes – the
document is secure once you have closed the comb. An electric comb binding
machine will take the manual element out of this process. A comb binding machine
can generally handle a document with a paper stack of up to two inches and comb
binding machines remain a highly popular choice.
As it is the most popular form of binding, there is a vast array of comb
binders available on the market and prices range from well below £100 to upwards
of £1000 – although, at any price, a comb binder is a sound investment.
Manufacturers include Acco Rexel, GBC, Fellowes and ibico. A reputable supplier
will be able to guide you through the buying process and offer you a strong
selection of different comb binders to help you choose the right binder for your
office or business requirements.
Coil binding machines produce bound documents that are easily recognisable as
bound and coil binding machines are very popular – particularly in educational
and community establishments – and easy to use. Coil binders are available as
manually or electrically-operated, with electrical models being more suitable
for machines that will have a high volume of usage. As coils come in a variety
of colours, they are useful for creating cheerful and fun bound documents. The
advantages of coil bound documents include that they can be opened 360º, that
they are very durable and that your coil bound document can lie flat or stay
open when propped up.
Wire binding is another easily recognisable binding format and wire-bound
documents have an elegant and streamlined look to them. Wire-bound documents are
easy to read and manipulate and very durable. There are three different types of
wire binding, with each type punching holes in the document at different rates.
The Spiral-O type of wire binder is very similar to a comb binder – in that it
punches the same number of holes in an A4 document as a comb binder does. Some
dual-purpose binding machines are available on the market – offering both comb
binding and Spiral-O wire binding capabilities in one machine for added
flexibility and choice.
Thermal binding is a good, high-volume binding option for when time is
limited. Thermal-bound documents are bound permanently inside a thermal cover
and create a finished look without holes being punched in the document. Thermal
binding is useful for creating a quality look to your documents and
presentations and thermal binding machines are very easy to use.
Thermal binding uses pre-glued spines, which are custom-made for your thermal
binding machine. The document is inserted into the machine, so that it lies
within the pre-glued spine, and the machine that heats the glue up rapidly to a
high temperature. Once the glue has cooled down, your document is bound, without
holes, to give a streamlined look.
Perfect binding is another glue-based binding solution and perfect binding
machines are particularly suited to low volume use, as are thermal binding
machines. The document you wish to bind is placed into the machine and then
sealed with quality glue at a high temperature, before the machine cools the
glue down again to prepare the bound document for use. Perfect binders work
quickly and are a suitable option for users who would like to bind their
documents without any binding accessories to create a sleek look.
Tape binding and ibiClick binding are other forms of binding. The wide range
and quality of binding machines available on the market today reflects the
variety of ways that can be found to bind a document – a good quality retailer,
who offers a wide selection of binding machines, will be able to guide you
towards making the right choice for your particular needs.
About the Author
ABT are an established supplier of binders and a vast range of other office
equipment and furnishings at hard-to-beat prices with unrivalled customer
service. ABT's range of binding machines is available to view online –
http://www.print-finishing-paper-handling.co.uk/binding/index.htm
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Article Published/Sorted/Amended on Scopulus 2007-11-20 00:10:50 in Computer Articles
