Overview:
The GBC Ultima 65 school roll laminator is the best selling laminator for the school market in the United States.  Daycares, churches and printers are also taking advantage of this easy-to-operate, heavy duty, 27” heat roll laminator.  This laminator is an ideal solution to preserve classroom manipulatives, art projects, bulletin board decorations, tradeshow graphics, blueprints and so much more.

The GBC Ultima 65 is a heat roll laminator in contrast to a heat shoe laminator such as the Ledco, USI or Banner school laminators.  A heat shoe laminator is not recommended for environments where the laminator will experience multiple stop and start runs.  The benefit of a heat roll laminator is found in the steel rods found within the rollers.  Heat rollers are able to evenly distribute heat which prevents cold spot blotches from appearing on laminated materials. 

Features:

• Ease of Use Operation - The keypad controls and LED display of the Ultima 65 makes laminating more efficient and simple enough for all operators.  Teachers, librarians, office personnel and volunteers can feel comfortable and capable using the Ultima 65 with only minimal training.
• Safety - Complete with safety interlock feed tray and safety shield the GBC Ultima 65 is well equipped with safety in mind.  This unit will not operate unless the feed tray is locked in place and the safety shield has been engaged.  To prevent overheating and offer peace of mind, this laminator is equipped with an Auto Shut-Off feature that turns the machine off after 4 hours of non-use.
• Durability and Service - The heavy duty construction of the Ultima 65 will enable years of lamination use.  This laminator requires only minimal maintenance.  Service calls are typically a result of operator error.  This includes loading film incorrectly or attempting to laminate materials (wood, cardboard, etc) not recommended for this machine.  Please be aware that the Ultima 65 is not designed for mounting materials.  If a service need should arise, you can rest assured that with GBC’s nationwide service coverage, a qualified technician can be located in your area.
• Variable Film Length/Thickness Options - Although 1.5 mil. 25” x 500’ is the most common film used on the Ultima 65; this unit is capable of laminating sheets up to 27” wide.  This is ideal for laminating larger posters, maps, banners and signs.  The Ultima 65 will accept 1.2, 1.5, 1.7 and 3 mil. Thick films to allow you to choose the desired rigidity of your finished product.
• Cost - If you are looking to invest your carefully budgeted money into a well built, dependable and easy to use roll laminator; the Ultima 65 could be the laminator for you.  This unit is extremely well priced in its category.  There may be an alternative laminator available at a slightly lower price, but with a GBC product, like the best-selling Ultima 65, you know you will receive a superior quality product.  With the rising cost of oil and oil based products, laminating film costs can be difficult to manage.  High volume film users such as schools are seeking ways to stretch their monies as much as possible.  The GBC Ultima 65 will help you accomplish this goal because all brands and grades of film can be run on this laminator.

 

Recommendation:
Whether you are an educational facility seeking to protect your educational resources, a church desiring to enhance their promotional materials or a printer offering basic lamination services for posters and signage for your customers, I would highly recommend the GBC Ultima 65 laminator.  If you are shopping for a laminator capable of mounting or a unit designed for specialty applications you should consider a laminator in a separate category such as the GBC Catena series.  

More Information:
If you would like more information or would like to purchase the GBC Ultima 65 School Roll Laminator or browse through our other GBC roll and pouch laminators, please visit www.PresentationsDirect.com.

Synopsis:
The GBC PB2600 binding machine is a compact, electric comb binding inserter.  This modular unit increases productivity during assembly of comb bound books.

Pluses:
The GBC PB2600 binding machine has an easy select dial to adjust for varying sizes of comb bindings and contains an illuminated size guide helping to make set up easier.  The operator can use the table top push button or the foot pedal option for opening and closing the combs.  The PB2600 is equipped with exclusive spine stoppers to prevent large oval binding elements from flipping forward when opened.  These stoppers can be removed if larger, oval comb bindings are rarely used or not used at all.  This unit is all metal construction and includes aluminum die cast sides which provide long life and overall durability.  The PB2600 can be stacked onto a modular punching unit for space saving as well as greater productivity potential.  The GBC Magnapunch Interchangeable Die Punch, GBC MP2500iX Interchangeable Die Punch or GBC CombBind MP2000PB Punch will provide the punch equipment you need to prepare to bind with the GBC PB2600.

Minuses:
The GBC PB2600 can only use a maximum comb length of 19 rings or bind an 11-1/4” sheet size.  Some feel the spine stoppers can get in the way when binding smaller books. 

My Point of View:
My overall opinion is that the GBC PB2600 binding machine is a quick, compact comb inserter if you are strictly binding standard 19R or 11-1/4” sheets.  This unit is well built and designed for production and ease of operation.

If you would like more information or would like to purchase the GBC PB2600 Binding Machine or browse through our other binding machines, please visit www.PresentationsDirect.com.

About the Author:
D. Michael Smith has worked in the document finishing industry for more than 30 years helping individuals, organizations, schools and companies find solutions for their presentation needs. 

Synopsis:
The GBC MagnaPunch is a heavy duty electric desktop binding punch.  This unit is rated by GBC at 40,000 sheets punched per hour, but realistically can punch closer to 30,000 sheets an hour.  It has a half second punch cycle and a continuous duty motor for increased productivity.  The MagnaPunch is ideal for medium to heavy production print shops or in plant operations as well.  This unit has a wide variety of interchangeable die sets that allow for all desired punch patterns including GBC ProClick, plastic comb, color coil, twin loop wire and velobind.
Pluses:
Companies that prefer the traditional, lay flat style for paper feeding will be pleased with this unit.  The MagnaPunch has an extra large chip drawer for fewer project pauses.  This unit can be operated by either a foot pedal or the automatic punch sensor mechanism.  Switching the die sets is a snap as no tools are necessary.  GBC nationwide service coverage access is good.

Minuses:
With the lay flat feed style of the MagnaPunch, sheets can be off skew or punched unevenly if the user is not careful during paper insertion.  This unit does have a slightly higher price point than other comparable units, but in this case you do get what you pay for.

My Point of View:
I have used and reviewed many electric punches throughout my 38 years in the document finishing field.  I would consider the GBC MagnaPunch to be one of the best electric punch units in its class.  I prefer the lay flat feed design over a gravity feed unit.  I believe this unit to be faster and easier to use.

More Information:
If you would like more information or would like to purchase the GBC MagnaPunch Heavy Duty Electric Binding Punch or browse through our other binding machines, please visit www.PresentationsDirect.com.

Author Bio:
D. Michael Smith has worked in the document finishing industry for 38 years helping individuals, organizations, schools and companies find solutions for their presentation needs.

Michael is a specialist in the implementation of GBC Binding Machines (Plastic Comb, ProClick, ZipBind, Thermal, Color Coil, Twin Loop Wire and VeloBind), GBC Laminators (Pouch and Roll Laminators) and GBC Paper Shredders (Cross Cut, Straight / Strip Cut and Micro Cut).  He can help answer your questions and point you in the right direction to complete your next presentation project attractively and on budget.

Overview:
The easy to use Pro-Bind 2000 Thermal Binding Machine is a heat binding unit that requires no warm up time and offers an auto shut off safety feature. This 1 step thermal binding solution requires no punching to make attractive and secure bound documents. The user can bind up to 10 hard cover or soft cover documents at one time using this desktop perfect thermal binding equipment. Adding a Pro-Bind Hard Cover crimper enables the user to produce attractive and professional looking hard cover thermal bound books, presentations and reports.

Strengths:

• 18 gauge steel all-metal construction provides durability.
• A wide range of spine sizes can be used (from 1/16” to 2” spines).
• 1 button, 1 step binding convenience (no punching required).
• Fast binding with no warm up time and 30 second cycle time for soft cover thermal binders & 60 second for hard cover thermal binders.
• Capable of production rates of around 420 soft cover books per hour.

 

Related Products:

To complete your thermal binding project, you will need to choose between soft or hard thermal binding covers. Soft binding covers provide a variety of colors and are more economical, while hard binding covers provide a more durable solution and require additional crimping equipment. Custom covers are also available to customize your documents with your organization’s brand.

Summary:

The ProBind 2000 Thermal Binding Machine enables the user to have an easy thermal binding process which provides economically bound documents that are secure, attractive and easy to mail with no punching needed. This low cost, easy binding solution may be ideal for your next bound presentation.

If you would like more information or would like to purchase the Pro-Bind 2000 Thermal Binding Machine, Pro-Bind Hard Cover Crimper or browse through our other binding machines, please visit www.PresentationsDirect.com

UPDATE: Our Shredder Excess Inventory Sale has ended, but you can still get discounted pricing and free shipping on GBC paper shredders at PresentationsDirect.com.

The warehouse is full and some of our excess shredder inventory has to go.  Right now, this paper shredder overstock means big savings for you, including FREE ground shipping (in the 48 US States)!

This limited time sale only lasts as long as our excess inventory does.  So, take a look online at our list of GBC paper shredders included in this sale and protect your private information by ordering your new paper shredder today . . . before they’re gone!

You know you need to bind some pages together into a booklet, but you may not know where to start.  With so many binding options out there, how do you know which is the right choice to make when choosing a binding style?  And once you decide on the binding style that is right for you, how do you decide which binding equipment is best for your job?

Hopefully we can clear up some of the confusion and provide you with some helpful tips as you select a binding machine that meets your needs.   Here are 5 questions you can ask to help assess your needs as you choose a binding machine.

When choosing a binding machine, you should ask . . . .

1. What are my project needs?
   Often, there are multiple factors that come into play when making a decision about your binding needs.  For example, budget may be important, but so is reliability.  Or you may need to mail your documents, but you also want a binding style that is, well, stylish.  Other potential needs might include ease of use, equipment durability, equipment speed, overall performance, supply costs, number of sheets, as well as ongoing support.  This is a brainstorming step where you list all of your project needs.
2. What is my most important need? 
   Since most decision making is a give and take, you’ll want to prioritize your needs established in step 1.  For example, if you only have $500 to spend, it doesn’t matter how many sheets at a time you would like your binding machine to punch, because you will be limited somewhat by your budget. In some cases though, budget should not primarily dictate your purchase decision.  If you need to keep up with high volume demand, then speed and efficiency would be your most important needs.  Or if your first priority is to mail bound documents, then your choice would be narrowed somewhat based on this business requirement.  So determine at the start what is most important to you as this will help you narrow down your options.
3. Which binding style will best meet my needs?
   Now that you have prioritized your needs and identified your most important need, it’s time to look at which options meet those needs.  Our binding style comparison page is a good place to start.  A chart like this (you can even make your own) can help you to visualize which style best provides the features you need.
4. Which binding equipment is best?
   This is the step where you take all the information you have gathered so far regarding your binding needs and continue to narrow down your choices.  By now, you should have established a budget, determined your volume needs (high volume vs. low volume) and figured out which binding style works for your project.  Now you’re ready to compare equipment by style.  Our binding equipment comparison page will give you an “at a glance” comparison chart to help you make the best decision. 
5. Who has the experience and ability to help me best?
   You don’t want to feel like you’re “doing it alone” when you embark on a binding project.  Is the local office store going to be able to answer your questions about the various equipment you’re thinking about?  Does your supplier have a large stock of bindings and covers to accommodate your project needs? Look for a company with years of experience helping people like you in a variety of situations and with just the right equipment to get the job done right. 

Let us know if we can help answer any questions you might have or provide you with samples.  Call us at 1-800-284-2463 or take a look at the binding section on our website for more information.

www.presentationsdirect.com

So you or your employer finally purchased that laminator you’ve been wanting.  No longer do you have to put up with that old laminator that worked sometimes or bother with the hassle of going off site to the nearest location that has laminating service.  Instead, your new roll or pouch laminator is setup and installed and you’re ready to start laminating your school teaching aids or important documents.  You follow the instructions as best as you remember from your training and run through your first item to be laminated. 

But as you watch your laminated item complete its lamination cycle and roll out on the other side, you notice that your completed project looks less than ideal.  What went wrong?  You quickly retrace your steps that should have yielded perfect lamination, but you can’t figure out where you went wrong.  Do you toss the new laminator in the garbage?  Of course not (although you might feel like it).  Do you call the service rep?  You may need to, but you also might be able to fix the problem yourself.  So where do you start?

You can start troubleshooting your laminator problems by taking a deep breath and then proceeding to download our laminating tips sheet or lamination troubleshooting guide.

And if you’re one of the frustrated people who have yet to get a new laminator of your own . . . may I suggest a new GBC roll or pouch laminator?  Of course, I’m biased in this area, but can you blame me?  Presentations Direct has been helping customers just like you since 1981 to satisfy their lamination needs with laminating solutions from GBC, the leader in laminators for home, school, business and commercial applications.  Whether you need laminating equipment, film or pouches, we can help find the machine or supplies that meet your lamination needs and your budget.

This month we started offering our customers a new automatic laminating option that has been well received early on!  Some have called this new laminator technology a “breakthrough” and “a first, that can’t be ignored.”  This revolutionary Fujipla AL-MEISTER will be on display at the Print Solutions 2007 show in Las Vegas next month, but for those that can’t make it to Nevada, we wanted to give you a glimpse online.

With just a 5 minute warmup time, you can place up to 200 documents in the feeder and watch as they are automatically fed, laminated and trimmed without user intervention.  All you have to do is retrieve your finished documents (up to 12″ x 18″) from the collection tray.  With 3 film thicknesses to choose from (1.5, 3 or 5 mil), this versatile automatic laminator can save you time and money.

Availability is now, so call us today at 1-800-284-2463 for more information.

  

 

GBC recently unveiled new print-on-demand laminators at Graph Expo in Chicago which we attended (here is another article written live from Graph Expo).  These new models will serve as a helpful addition to our current quality line of GBC commercial and wide format laminators. 

We’ll be adding these to our site as they are released.  Call us at 1-800-284-2463 if we can help with your on demand laminating needs.

UPDATE: This thermal binding machine already sold on eBay, but you can take a look at our current thermal binding equipment at PresentationsDirect.com.

Today, we posted a thermal binding machine for sale on eBay.  It’s the 2000XT from GBC.  Originally this unit retailed for $1195, but is currently on eBay for less than $200 (as of the time of this posting).  Read all the details on eBay.