Have you found yourself at Staples or Kinkos spending much more on binding then you should? Plastic comb binding machines are much cheaper than you can even imagine. If you are like the rest of us you love the way a binded report looks. It's the best way to show the company how serious you are and taking your presentation to the next step, binding machines have really become cheap. You'll want to check out which binding machine is best suited for your needs.
There are 2 main types of plastic comb binding machines. The two different types, electric and manual, each have different advantages and disadvantages. Electric variations will allow you to perform at the fastest rate possible as well as provide some of the best and most consistent results. However electric plastic binding machines are expensive and require a dedicated power source. If you don't plan on doing a lot of binding or only require a small report that is bound then I'd suggest purchasing the manual variation. With enough searching you can find used manual plastic binders that are about half as expensive as the electric counterparts.
Punching capacity is the single most important decision when purchasing a binder. This is by far the most important aspect when purchasing a binder. You should start thinking about the business documents that you will be binding and the types of coverings that you will be using. Begin thinking about the different combs available as they range from 1/2 inch all the way up to 3 inches thick, that way you choose the right type of comb binder for your daily needs. As stated before consider the punching capacity. Most machines are created to take a small capacity, which means that it could take up to twenty minutes per document. Thus increasing your productivity as you can create larger documents in a shorter time frame. Electric machines usually allow a much higher capacity and rate of punching speed.
The type and size of paper that binding machines vary but all are suitable for your standard document size, because all binded documents are usually created in the 8.5 x 11 format except for legal documents. If you are looking to bind documents that aren't in your standard sizes then please take note. Not all machines are created with the same document measurements in mind. Therefore be sure to verify exactly what standards the binders will create to make sure you don't buy one that is incompatible.
After determining whether you want an electric or manual, and the overall punching capacity you will need to take a look at warranties. Machines of these type can be very expensive and costly so you will want to consider things like the company and warranty. You will want to make sure that you aren't purchasing a plastic binder. Plastics have the possibility of not lasting as long and breaking down in shorter time frame. Metal devices typically outlast the plastic counterparts by years of use. In case of breaking or being defective be sure to look over the stated warranty and the companies replacement policy. Some offer a full warranty for several years to come, take a look at the specifics prior to making your decision.
Choosing the correct brand is what can make or break your binding experience. You'll want to purchase one from a company that is reputable in the industry. We highly suggest purchasing from Tamerica, RhinoTuff or GBC.
