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Automated Paper Folding vs. Manual Paper Folding

Back in 2^nd grade they promised us that by now we’d by flying around in jetpacks and have tons of fun devices to help us do our jobs and work less. Well, the jetpack thing hasn’t come true yet (sadly), but there are quite a few time and energy saving devices that have cropped up since second grade, like automated paper-folding machines.

Who knew paper folding could be so fun and quick? If you’re thinking about getting an automated paper folding machine for your office, but aren’t sure if they’re worth the money, here are some pros and cons of machine folding vs. manual hand folding.

Manual Paper Folding

Pro: The only positive aspect of manually folding paper is that on the surface it appears to be cheaper. And if you are only going to be folding a couple of letters, maybe you’re right. But if you have a large mailing list or are handing out a myriad of z-fold flyers, maybe it’s time to start looking at automated folding machines.

Con: Manually folding paper takes time and effort that could be spent on a multitude of other projects. Why spend an hour folding and stuffing letters by hand, when you could have 1000 letters folded and ready to stuff in less than a minute with an automatic paper folder? Also, a folding machine will help you avoid minor soreness and paper cuts.

Automated Paper Folding

Pro: It’s super fast. You’ll save time and energy with an automated paper-folding machine, time that could be spent on other more worthwhile activities. Also, automated paper folding creates a uniform fold every time, so you don’t have to worry about throwing away any “mess ups.” Intelli-Zone has created a fabulous line of friction feed paper folders called Intell-Fold.

Con: It will cost a little more money up front than continuing to manually fold, but the time and energy you save will more than make up for the cost in the long run. And automatic paper-folding machines are less expensive than you might think.

All-in-all, automated paper-folding machines will save you time and money in the long run by allowing you to focus on more important tasks instead of rubbing your fingers raw all afternoon.

Tips for Choosing a Packaging Sealer

Maybe you're looking to start shrink sealing your products or searching for a new machine to meet you needs, either way, I have put together a few things to consider during your next purchase of a shrink sealer. As I am most familiar with Traco Manufacturing's products, I will be highlighting them throughout this post. However, most of the sealing machines available on the market today are quite similar, so much of these details will apply across the board.

First, consider the volume and frequency of your shrink sealing needs. Will you be sealing everyday or just once a week? Will you be sealing one item at a time or doing a batch of several hundred items at a time? For your low capacity applications, in small business environments, you will want to first consider the Traco Hot Shot Heat Gun, this handy tool is very effective and extremely affordable, available at retail outlets for less than $40. For more demanding operations in small to medium businesses, and for repackaging needs in retail environments, consider using a more robust machine like the Traco Deluxe SuperSealer Portable Shrink system.  The SuperSealer Portable  comes standard with a shrink film roll cutter, a heat gun, and a replacement parts kit. This machine allows you to quickly cut and seal centerfold shrink film around your item, you would then hit your product with the Hot Shot Gun to finish.  As the SuperSealer is extremely easy to use, beginners should not be intimidated; it only takes a few minutes to pick up the technique and begin sealing professional-looking products.

Next, consider the type of sealing you'll be doing.  If you just need to cut and seal bags quickly, many times a day, a foot operated impulse bag sealer may be the best option for you.  This sealer will allow the operator to seal bags quickly while sitting down in a chair near the machine. Consider this unit for light to moderate bag sealing in a small business environment. For sealing more unique shapes and customized products, a SuperSealer Deluxe Wand System may be your best bet.  Used much like the SuperSealer Deluxe mentioned above, the wand system just allows you more versatility in sealing because the sealer is actually a handheld wand that you can hold at different angles to get the seal you're looking for. 

Along with choosing the right machine to meet your packaging needs, you will also need to purchase shrink film regularly. Depending on the type of items you intend to package, you may need very specific film to ensure your products are packaged in the manner you truly desire (fully protected and durable). Polyolefin shrink film is typically seen on CD and DVD products and is also FDA approved for direct food contact. This means you can package fruit, breads, gift baskets and more with this particular type of film.  Polyolefin film is very flexible and intended for packages of all shapes and sizes as it does not typically crack under pressure. PVC Shrink film can be a little more brittle and is best suited for more rigid and simply-shaped products.

For large scale sealing and packaging needs, there are self-contained units that can package anything from CDs and DVDs to clothing and other merchandise. Companies that require such equipment often would benefit from having these other, smaller, shrink sealing machines on-hand in case of an emergency or a need for a quick fix. If you have any questions about the items I mentioned above, please feel free to leave comments below.

A Few Tips about Buying Shrink Wrap Systems

Shrink wrap has become one of the most popular forms of packaging today, partly due to its low cost and leading many business owners to ask us, what is the highest quality, affordable shrink wrap system for my small business?  Just like anything else with your small business you want your packaging operations to have maximum efficiency and effectiveness.  With so many shrink wrap systems designed for different applications, performance levels and budgets we’re confident that after answering a few questions you can design a highly effective and efficient packaging operation with your new shrink wrap system.

A few questions we find most helpful in answering include:

How large are the packages I need to shrink wrap?  Are they all relatively the same in size or do they vary?

How much space do I have to place the machine and does that amount of space or location need to be flexible?

How many products do I need to shrink wrap?  Several a minute or several an hour?

While not all answers to these questions will be the same for all small businesses at MachineRunner we most often find the Traco Deluxe SuperSealer Portable Shrink Wrap System to be the high quality, affordable solution to your shrink wrapping needs.  With available models ranging from 13’’ to 40’’ in length it’s perfect for shrink wrapping products the size of a small book to products as large as gift baskets and framed art.  It’s smaller size, weight and portability also makes it a dream for small businesses that don’t have a lot of dedicated space to packaging or could see that space change location, expand or shrink in size.  The super sealer’s ability to package several products per minute means your products are ready to leave your shelf just that much faster.  In addition to all of this once the Traco SuperSealer arrives at your business you literally just plug it in to one regular 110v outlet, turn the machine on and immediately start sealing.  With a two year warranty, a starting sales price of $279 and the reputation for being the number 1 selling portable shrink wrapping machine with over 150,000 in use worldwide today it’s clear why we think the Traco Deluxe SuperSealer Portable Shrink Wrap System is the answer to your packaging needs!