Paper Folders Info

Telko Small Business Home Office Folder
Manufactured by Telko, Inc and distributed as the Techko LF283 or the Dahle 10560, this is a good buy for the budget conscious who don’t need consistent high-volume jobs. This folder is rated for up to 4000 single sheets of 20 lb. bond paper per hour. However, it won’t handle that volume on a continuous basis. Will fold the three most common sizes of paper: letter (8-1/2" X 11"); A4 (8-1/4" X 11-5/8"); and legal (8-1/2" X 14") it has both auto-feed and manual-feed options; manually folding up to three sheets of paper at one time. The paper tray holds up to 50 sheets of 20 lb. bond paper. This table-top folder comes with a desk stand and metal paper catch.

MBM Simplimatic
The Simplimatic is an affordable, entry level medium friction folder and a popular choice for churches, clubs, schools, and home offices. Paper size range 5 ¾” x 6” to 8 ½” x 14”. No mechanical setup - just dial in the fold you want (four standard folds, but z and c-folds not available on 8 ½” x 14”). Manual feed of up to three sheets stapled or automatic feed of single sheets. The snap-out cartridge is a maintenance plus. Rated for 8400 sheets per hour with a paper weight range of 16-24#. Runs on a 12volt DC power pack.

Martin Yale 1501X and 1217A
Two models in the medium duty range. The Martin Yale 1501X folds letter, legal and similarly sized sheets. Easy to set up and operate and turns a stack of programs, newsletters or other single sheets into perfectly folded pieces at a feed speed of 5,000 sheets per hour. The Martin Yale 1217A is a real value medium duty folder with heavy-duty features, like a 3-belt conveyor table with delivery tray and a stacking wheel assembly. Handles paper size capacity to 11-3/4” x 18” and has manually adjustable fold plates for single, letter, double parallel and z-folds. 18# to 90# bond paper weights. Speed up to 10,300 sheets per hour.

Standard PF-P280
The Standard PF-P280 friction feed folder is specifically designed for fast half-folds. It will also create other popular fold patterns in two passes. Easy fold roller access and quiet operation. Handles up to 11” x 17” paper and up to 190 folds per minute.

Your best selection and price on paper folders by Martin Yale, Premiere®, MBM, Duplo, Standard, Dahle, and Intimus is Factory Express.

...Good Choice for Offices, Schools and Churches

Manual Setup, Auto Feed Folders

These types of folders typically use manual setup, but there are auto-feed paper folders for medium volume paper folding. These folders have friction rollers that automatically pull the paper in from the feed tray and fold it. The only manual process required is setting up the folder. With a manual setup folder, you usually have to adjust the folding plates to the exact fold you want. Some medium duty folders will come with dial-in fold settings.

Not Just For Letters

The price is higher than the entry level letter folders. However you get the capability to do more than the standard “C fold”. These friction folders will usually do about four different folds, sometimes more. The main folds are single or half fold, letter/C-fold, double parallel fold and Z-fold. Get a better understanding at types of folds.

They will also often fold two or three different paper sizes such as8–½” x 11”, A4 (8-1/4" X 11-5/8") and 11” x 17”. Sometimes they can handle heavier than normal 20# stock.

If you are considering a paper folder of this type you will have a wide choice. As with anything, the larger your budget the greater your range of features and options. However, the most expensive is not always the best choice for your needs.

Keep in mind that manufacturer claims are “ideal conditions”. In real world applications you are going to encounter occasional problems. It’s wise to get the best machine for your money. A few of your considerations are the volume and weight of the paper you will be folding, the type of folds you need, ease of operation and maintenance and the amount of paper you can stack in the paper tray (i.e. stack capacity).

The primary manufacturers for medium duty paper folders are Martin Yale, MBM, Dahle, Standard and Intimus

Your best selection and price on paper folders by Martin Yale, Premiere®, MBM, Duplo, Standard, Dahle, and Intimus is Factory Express.

...When You Have a Basic Tri-fold Need

The most basic paper folders are the type that will fold one to three sheets of standard letter size paper (8.5” x 11”) into a tri-fold that you can insert into a standard #10 business envelope. This tri-fold (also known as a C-fold or letter-fold) is handled by the most common letter paper folder.

You can find desktop letter folders by Dahle, Martin Yale and Premiere to meet the needs of those shopping for budget-minded inexpensive folders.

If you find this is your need and you don’t have a large amount of documents to fold on a regular basis then you should consider the entry-level manual-feed letter folders. There are inexpensive as paper folders go (less than $200), can fit on most any desk space and are easy to operate.

Because these machines are basic you will not experience the high-speed output of higher priced auto-feed folders, the fold is non-adjustable and you have to feed the paper in yourself. However, you can fold up to three sheets at a time (stapled or unstapled) and the machines are quiet. This is the choice for budget-minded consumers who don’t have a large volume of folding to do.

Dahle 10540 Desktop Letter Folder
This unit is compact, lightweight and fits neatly on a desk. Folds letter size documents in about a second. Folds up to 3 pages of paper (even stapled sheets) at a time. Made of high impact plastic and quiet operation will not disrupt normal office environment

Martin Yale - Premier® P6200 Desktop Letter Folder
Efficient and fast (up to 1800 letters per hour). Insert up to 3 sheets of 8-1/2” x 11” paper, stapled or unstapled and neatly folded documents appear within seconds. Makes mailing letters, news releases, and flyers go quicker.

Your best selection and price on paper folders by Martin Yale, Premiere®, MBM, Duplo, Standard, Dahle, and Intimus is Factory Express.

A paper folder is simple to use and easy to operate. A paper folder will save you both time and money.

Are you tired of folding paper by hand? This can be an extremely tedious task to undertake, but folding can also be too costlly to outsource. A paper folder could increase the number of sheets one is able to fold to between 4,000 to 115,000 sheets per hour depending upon the machine you use. Complete your folding project in less time, leaving more free time for you. Quickly and easily fold a stack of papers in minutes instead of hours. Fold brochures, flyers, letters, invoices, bulletins and more with a new paper folder or letter folder.

A paper folder can help you:

• Fold Faster - Increase the number of sheets folded per hour - get your job done in less time.
• Save Money - Save you money by increasing output and decreasing man-power.
• Save time - The speed of a paper folder will save you time, allowing you to do other things.
• Reduce Fatigue - Reduce physical and mental fatigue - No more long hours spent manually folding documents.
• Do More - Increase the types of folds you can create (create the Single (Half, V) fold,
  Letter (C) fold, Z (Accordion) fold, Double Parallel(Zig-Zag) fold, Cross Fold(French, Right) fold, Half Accordion(Fold-out, Engineering) fold and the Gate fold)
  

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Take a sheet of paper, preferably letter size (8 ½” x 11”) and fold the top part to the middle of the page. Now fold the bottom part to the top. You’ve just created a tri-fold, better known as the “C fold”. This, the letter fold, is the most common need for most people, either home or business. The neatly folded sheet of paper fits snugly into a #10 business size envelope. If you are an office worker with the responsibility of folding and sending out documents I’m certainly not telling you anything new.

Even at home you probably do this a few times a week.Basic folders will perform the letter/C/tri-fold.

Some of you are going to say the most common fold is the single fold, or half sheet fold. Ok, it’s pretty common, too. Many basic folders will also do the single fold.

The standard fold styles offered by most manufacturers are the single, letter, double parallel and accordion. The latter two will also fit in a #10 business envelope.

Do you have custom fold requirements? If so, you may want to consider models that allow users to manually set the folds. The more complicated the fold the trickier it can get. Keep in mind the majority of paper folding machines are designed for the common paper fold types.

Your best selection and price on paper folders by Martin Yale, Premiere®, MBM, Duplo, Standard, Dahle, and Intimus is Factory Express.

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Helpful Maintenance Tips:

Friction Folder Rollers - The rollers on friction fed folders are susceptible to static electricity buildup. This can cause the paper to jam as the sheets will stick together and wrap around the rollers. This is why paper folder maintenance is essential, but easily accomplished with inexpensive roller cleaner, static eliminator and paper folder care.

Think about it…paper being pulled through the rollers in rapid succession is bound to generate that static. Some machines come with an anti-static strip to help reduce this buildup. Nevertheless, using anti-static spray such as “Static Eliminator” will help eliminate this problem.

Ink and talc can also buildup on the rubber rollers. Over time the rollers can also dry out and crack. An easy maintenance solution to this is rubber roller cleaner.

Paper Jams - A consideration when you are purchasing a paper folder is how easy it is to clear out paper jams. This is going to happen to the best of folders, so do some research to find out the options the machine has for getting at jammed paper.

Some machines open-up or release the rollers for easier access to the jammed paper. Others have pop-out cartridges. You might even have a jam detector on the folder which saves you from continuous jamming.

Testing - Not all models are able to handle various paper thickness or coated stock. Carbonless paper, glossy finish or light-weight (like onion skin) sheets can be problematic. If you have such needs then see if you can have a test done. Some better designed folders often have a test-sheet feature.

High-End, Air Feed, Inserter, Sealers - These machines are higher-end and may have special maintenance concerns. Air-feed/vacuum folders use compressed air to pull through the sheets, so you don’t have the same concerns as rubber rollers. Inserters and sealers have functions above and beyond just folding. It’s advisable to ask questions of your customer service representative or dealer. Find out if there are service agreements and training. Doing a little homework up front can save you aggravation later on.

Your best selection and price on paper folders by Martin Yale, Premiere®, MBM, Duplo, Standard, Dahle, and Intimus is Factory Express.

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The speed (output) of folding primarily depends on the type of paper folder you use, the type of fold and the size/weight of the paper. Basic letter folders will do the tri-fold, known as “letter” of “C” fold. They are usually manual feed, which means someone is feeding the paper into the machine. They will fold relatively quickly (1-3 seconds per sheet), but they aren’t built for high-volume.

Manual feed friction folders vary from 2,000 to 10,000 sheets per hour, depending on the model and based on ideal conditions. This means you aren’t stopping to clear jams and someone is keeping the top or bottom feed tray loaded.

Higher volume auto feed (8,000 -18,000 per minute) and air feed (10,000 – 20,000 per minute range) folders can do big jobs, again factoring in size of paper, weight, stock and type of fold.

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The heavier the stock the more rigid the paper. Consequently the greater the difficulty in folding. Lightweight paper, such as onion skin, also can be problematic, particularly with friction folders that can tear the paper as it pulls it through. Machines vary on what weight they can handle, so again review the product specifications.

What kind of paper will you be using (stock and size)? The type of paper stock is a consideration. Certain folders, especially the entry level, will fold normal 20# stock. Heavier stock, coated or glossy may require higher end auto-feed models or air-feed machines.

The size of the paper (i.e. letter, legal, A4, 11” x 17” and smaller sizes) you need to fold is also a factor in what machine you will select. The product specifications will indicate what size paper the machine can fold.

The basic letter fold (tri-fold, C fold) will evenly fold a standard8 ½” x 11” piece of paper so it fits snugly into a #10 business envelope. Other similar folds are the single or half fold, Z or accordion fold, engineering fold, double parallel and brochure folds. More sophisticated folds include the baronial and the French or right angle/cross fold.

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Consider This-
The human nature thing to do is to go first to price. But, this could be a huge mistake. Paper folder buying can be an inexpensive or expensive proposition. One of the best ways to keep the price down is to buy the right folder for the right job – the first time! Good paper folding considerations will lead to better paper folder shopping.

When shopping for paper folders choose the model that best meets your requirements (needs) for type of folds, paper requirements, performance, and ease of use. Then find the best price.

Your main considerations are:

• The type of folds your jobs require. The options are letter fold (a tri-fold also known as the “C” fold), half folds, accordion/Z fold, engineering, double parallel, brochure and cross-fold (right-angle fold which requires a second fold/pass). There are more descriptions at fold types.

• The type of paper you fold. This means the weight, stock, coating (is it glossy?) and size. Various machines handle various types of paper specifications.

• The performance of the paper folder is important. The volume of paper you fold, the frequency of use, the time you need to get the job done in (speed of the folder), ease of use, maintenance and special features are all important and paper folders vary widely. Typically the more features, types of fold, the higher the use and special paper needs will mean spending more for a better designed folder.

• Shipping, setup and training. If the folder will be shipped to you be sure you understand the freight considerations. Smaller folders can ship by ground freight by services like UPS and Fed Ex. However, the bigger folders will ship by freight truck. Also, some manufacturers will only ship by freight to protect the units from damage. Once you have your folder you may need assistance in setup or training (although most folders are easy to install and use).

• Space, size, weight and look. Do you have room for your paper folder? Remember the heavy duty folders are bigger than the smaller desktop models. This is especially true with Air-Feed and Inserter/Sealers. You might need a special area or sturdy surface to support it. If aesthetics are a concern then compare similar models by different manufactures. The designs are comparable, although you’ll discover some variety.

• Don’t forget customer service and maintenance considerations. Paper folders really are not difficult to operate and the maintenance doesn’t usually require a specialist. However, if you don’t do the basics, like clean the rubber rollers on friction folders, reduce static buildup and clear out jammed paper then you’re eventually asking for trouble. Inquire about warranties and service agreements. Also, whom you buy from needs to be reputable. The convenience of online shopping is wonderful, but make sure you get to know your seller. Smart paper folder buying includes common sense considerations like a phone number to talk to a representative, secure servers to process your credit card and posted terms of service are mandatory. Don’t get burned by a “fly-by-night” operator.

There may be some other paper folder considerations. Paper Folders Info was designed to help you do the research before you buy. Explore our site thoroughly and if you have a question or concern you don’t see specifically addressed we will be happy to hear from you.

For your best selection and price on paper folders by Martin Yale, Premiere®, MBM, Duplo, Standard, Dahle, and Intimus visit Factory Express.

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It’s true…there is a big difference between the various types of paper folders.

Letter Folders - These paper folders are designed to do the letter/C fold. These folders work great for home and small office use. They will fold your paper neatly to fit into a #10 size business envelope. Depending on the machine you may have to feed the sheets in one-at-a-time or a small stack.

Office-Friction - If you need paper folded frequently (like everyday), you need to consider an office-friction folder. You can fold a large stack of sheets and often in a variety of folds. These types of folders are called “friction” because they use friction rollers that automatically pull the paper in from the feed tray and fold it. There are manual-feed, semi-automatic or auto-feed versions and they handle medium to high volume paper folding.

Auto setup, auto-feed paper folders - These paper folders are friction folders that pull the paper from a feed tray and can automatically adjust according to the type of fold you need.

Air or suction-feed paper folders - These paper folders are great for medium to high volume use and are best for glossy paper and faster folding.

Paper folders/envelope inserters - These paper folders work well for mailings and will not only fold your document but insert into an envelope, too. The process is simple and automatic.

Folder/Sealers - These paper folders are high volume and will take a document, fold it, insert it into an envelope and glue it. The pressure-sensitive envelopes have a self-adhesive glue pre-applied before use.

The type of fold, paper size and weight, volume of paper folding your jobs require, ease of operation and your budget are also important considerations.

Your best selection and price on paper folders by Martin Yale, Premiere®, MBM, Duplo, Standard, Dahle, and Intimus is Factory Express.

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