CORRECT-TEK COPIER SERVICE, was created, in response to a marketplace need for an independent service organization (ISO) to provide a good quality Service, Supplies, and Sales source alternative to large corporations and their significantly higher service rates. Thirty years of experience provide customers with both effective solutions to the everyday problems of equipment breakdowns, and the best in new machines and technology for the trouble free office.
1st Article Office Laminating Supplies - The Key to Versatility Different manufacturers offer laminating supplies for all your laminating needs. However, if you are not a professional laminator, it may be difficult on your part to choose the correct materials you will need. All you want is the best lamination materials, for all your lamination projects, so you need to get the best supplies from the right manufacturers. If you are new to lamination, here are the laminating supplies you will need to purchase to have the versatility in your work.
Laminating Machine
The most important laminating supplies are the laminating machines themselves. The machine is the most expensive part of the whole lamination process; therefore, it is important that you choose the best one of them for your needs. The machine comes in all different sizes. It can accommodate any size - from the largest poster to the smallest piece of paper. Before you purchase the laminating supplies, determine the need for your office. If you laminate only small materials, an average-sized machine is more practical, as it is far less costly than the larger ones. Another choice for laminators is the hot and cold types. The two differences are in the temperature requirement. The hot laminating machine uses mainly heat to laminate materials. Of the two, this is the most common type because it allows permanent lamination of most materials. Laminating Pouches Laminating pouches are plastic lamination supplies that hold the material for lamination. All you need to do is, just insert the document inside the pouch and feed it into the laminator. Once it passes thru the hot laminator and pressure rollers, the layers of the pouches adhere together and seal the document. You can trim the excess parts of the pouch using scissors or cutters. Laminating pouches come in different sizes and thicknesses. Although you would expect to pay a higher price for the thicker laminating supplies, the price is reasonable for the amount of protection they provide. Laminating Films Laminating films are an alternative to lamination supplies for the pouches. Like the laminating pouches, you just have to insert the document in between the film and feed it into the laminator. These films come in varying sizes and thicknesses. You will need to determine your preference before buying your laminating supplies. Generally, the thicker and bigger the film, the higher the price will be.
Self-Laminating Sheets Self-laminating sheets are lamination supplies for people on the go. If you find you are constantly laminating things while you are out in the field, you can bring with you self-laminating sheets. With these types of laminating supplies, you do not need a laminator to protect your documents. All you need is to insert the document and the self-adhesive will keep the document safe.
ID Card Supplies The most common type of ID cards today is of the laminated type. There are many types of laminating supplies that will fit your ID cards. They include the hologram type ID cards, magnetic type strips and barcode types. Other materials are the attachable pins, clips, badge reels, luggage straps and protective carriers. Using all these laminating type supplies, you can keep all your cards protected.
The knowledge of the different kind of laminating materials, and their uses, as well as, your alternative options; helps you make wiser decisions in purchasing your specific equipment type needs. With the right laminating materials, you can protect all your documents for a longer period of time. You Need a Correct-Tek Copier Repair Services, Refurbished and New Copier Sales Parts..
2nd Article
How a Heated Roller Laminator Saves Money Every school has one. Teachers and scrap bookers say it is one of their favorite tools. Yet, in these tough economic times, the laminator is often one of the first pieces of equipment to remain idle. This does not have to be so. With a heated roller laminator, you can reduce your laminating costs without sacrificing quality.
First, let me provide a quick lesson on laminators. Roll laminators come in a multitude of sizes, configurations, and costs. Laminators generally operate in two ways. A heat shoe laminator consists of curved pieces of coated metal that surround the laminating rollers. This metal is heated up and the laminating film is pulled across the shoes to melt the adhesive on the laminating film. The rollers simply provide the pressure to stick the film to the item you are laminating. The second type of laminator is a heated roller laminator. Just as it sounds, the rollers in a heated roller laminator, which are normally made of silicon, are heated and thus melt the adhesive and provide the pressure for laminating at the same time. So how can a heated roller laminator save you money? It boils down to two factors: heat and waste. Let's look at each of these in more detail.
Heat Shoe Laminator In order to melt the adhesive on laminating film, heat must be applied. A standard 1.5 mil laminating film that is commonly used in schools generally melts around 275 degrees. Now, with a heat shoe laminator, there is a small gap in between the heat shoe, where the heat is applied, and the rollers, where the pressure is applied. Now because there is no heating occurring in this gap, the laminating film cools down in between the heat shoe and the roller. This often requires the laminator to be heated to a temperature much higher than 275 degrees, using more electricity and increasing the wear on the laminator's internal heating element. A heated roller laminator does not require the laminator to be heated over the operating temperature of thelaminating film because the film is constantly in contact with the heat source as pressure is applied to the item being laminated. Lower heat equals less electricity used and less wear. Not only is this good for your pocketbook, but good for the environment as well.
Heated Roller Laminator A heated roller laminator results in much less waste than a heat shoe laminator. Much like inkjet printers, a large part of the cost of laminating does not stem from the laminator itself, but the consumable supplies used. Standard laminating film can be as expensive as $50 per roll. By minimizing even just a few feet of waste per roll, large savings can be made. A heated roller laminator minimizes waste in two ways. First, when a heat shoe laminator is warming up, only the portion of the laminating rollers that are closest to the heat shoes are being heated. The back sides of the laminating rollers remain cool. This results in a repeating foggy pattern on the first several prints that are laminated because the cooler sides of the laminating rollers lower the temperature of the laminating film below the film's melt temperature before the appropriate amount of pressure can be applied. Unless the laminator operator rotates the rollers during warm up, the first few feet of laminating film is wasted.
This is not the case with the heated roller laminator because the rollers are uniformly heated. Second, the clarity of laminated prints tends to be better with a heated roller laminator. The laminating film is pulled across the heat shoes in a heat shoe laminator. Any dust or burrs on the heat shoe can scratch the laminating film as it is pulled across the heat shoes.
In the past, heated roller laminators have been overly expensive when compared to heat shoe laminators. GBC manufactures a popular heated roller school laminator; however the price is much higher than standard heat shoe laminators. However, Banner American Products, a Californiabased manufacturer, recently introduced a low-priced heated roller laminator called the EasyLam School Budget. The EasyLam Budget is half the price of existing heated roller laminators and is manufactured in the US. Start saving today with a heated roller laminator. You Need a Correct-Tek Copier Repair Services, Refurbished and New Copier Sales Parts..
3rd Article Selecting the Best Pouch Laminator For Your Needs
A pouch laminator can make a great addition to your home, office, school, or professional print shop, but with all of the outstanding laminating machines on the market, knowing which machine will fill your unique needs can be difficult. Below we will break down the differences between the various styles of pouch laminators to help you make an informed decision about which laminating machine to purchase.
The Basics Nearly all pouch laminators are thermal machines, which mean that they utilize heat to seal the pouch and fuse the layers together. Depending on the machine, the heat is applied by either heated plates or heated rollers. All machines utilize rollers to help ensure secure adhesion, eliminate air bubbles and move the laminated documents through the machine. Low volume machines (primarily for home use) are equipped with two rollers, mid-level laminators (for offices or schools) contain 2-6 rollers and professional laminating machines (for high volume users or copy shops) include between four and ten rollers. Most machines offer variable temperature control to allow users to adjust the heat level based on the thickness of the laminating pouch. Many pouch laminators also include a reverse feature, which makes it easier to clear jammed or mis-fed documents. Other popular features include a stand-by mode (preserves power while the machine is not laminating), the ability to laminate without a carrier sheet (used to prevent adhesive from oozing out from the edges of the laminating pouch and onto the rollers), cool rollers (help to reduce curling of laminated documents), and the ability to laminate photos. When selecting a pouch laminator, you'll need to evaluate the features that are the most important to your specific needs. If you will be producing a high volume of laminated documents, you may want to look for a machine that has a high maximum laminating speed. If you regularly use thick laminating pouches (7 mil or 10 mil), then you'll need to ensure that your selected machine can handle thick pouches. Those who only laminate IDs or badges may be content with a model that has a maximum document width of 4", while those looking to laminate signs or displays will likely want a machine that
offers a larger width. Taking the time to review the features of the available pouch laminating machines will help to ensure that you get the best laminatorfor your purposes. Home Pouch Laminators (for Low Volume Usage) Pouch laminating machines for home use offer the most basic features, without many of the advanced options that are used in office or professional settings. These laminators are most commonly available in 9" and 13" widths, and can laminate 3 mil and 5 mil pouches only. Among the most popular models of home pouch laminators are the SircleLam HQ-230 and HQ-330. Both versions offer the following features: - Maximum laminating speed of 9.85" per minute - Laminates photos - No carrier sheet required - Adjustable temperature - Cold setting (for use with self-adhesive "cold" laminating pouches) - Reverse (for releasing jams) - Six minute warm-up time - One-year warranty The only difference between these two models is the maximum width - the HQ-230 laminates documents up to 9" wide, while the HQ-330 allows users to laminate documents up to 13" wide. If you only laminate infrequently, and do not use pouches thicker than 5 mil, then a home pouch laminating machine may be the perfect choice for you. If you are looking for something a bit more robust, then read on to learn about office pouch laminators. Office Pouch Laminators (for Moderate Usage) Pouch laminating machines for office use offer a greater range of features than those designed for home use, and can handle a medium-to-high volume of usage. These laminators are available in widths ranging from 4" to 13.5", and can laminate pouches from 3 mil and 10 mil thick. In addition to being able to stand up to more frequent usage than home laminators, office pouch laminators also laminate much more quickly (in some cases, more than three times as fast as the home machines). Two the most popular models of office pouch laminators are the Akiles APL-320 and the SircleLam LA-7020E. Below is a comparison of their features: Akiles APL-320 - Max. Laminating Speed: 24" per minute - Carrier sheet not required when laminating 5, 7 or 10 mil pouches - Max. Width: 12 1/2" - Four Rollers - Independent Heat & Motor Switches - Variable, Electronic Heat Control - Heating Element: Heated Rollers - Warm-Up Time: 3 minutes - Cold setting - One year warranty
SircleLam LA-7020E - Max. Laminating Speed: 33" per minute - No carrier sheet required (recommended when laminating 10 mil pouches) - Max. Width: 11 13/16" - Four Rollers - Independent Heat & Motor Switches - Variable, Electronic Heat Control - Heating Element: Aluminum Heat Plates - Warm-Up Time: 3 minutes - Cold setting - Five year warranty Both of these machines are equipped to handle daily use, however they differ in a few key areas. The Akiles APL-320 has a larger maximum width, but a slower laminating speed than the SircleLam LA-7020E. Independent heat and motor switches and variable, electronic heat control are included on both laminators, but the types of heating elements differ. Depending on your requirements, either of these machines would be a productive and beneficial addition to an office setting. If you need a machine that is even more powerful, then read on to learn about professional pouch laminators. Professional Pouch Laminators (for High Volume Usage) Pouch laminating machines for professional settings are the most robust machines on the market, and offer the most features. These laminators are available in widths ranging from 4" to 44", and can laminate pouches from 3 mil and 10 mil thick (with select machines having the ability to mount and laminate simultaneously). Professional pouch laminators also have the highest maximum laminating speed, with some machines laminating 12' per minute. Nearly all industrial machines come housed within metal casings for added durability. Though already discussed in the office pouch laminators section, the SircleLam LA-7020E is also popular in professional settings. Other well-liked professional pouch laminators include the SpeedyLam 330R-10 from James Burn International and the Akiles Pro-Lam Photo, which are detailed below: SpeedyLam 330R-10 - Max. Laminating Speed: 12' per minute - No carrier sheet required - Max. Width: 13" - Ten Rollers - Independent Heat & Motor Switches - Variable, Electronic Heat Control - Heating Element: Six Heated Rollers - Warm-Up Time: 5 minutes - Cold setting - Max. Pouch Thickness: 14 mil Akiles Pro-Lam Photo - Max. Laminating Speed: 38" per minute - No carrier sheet required
- Max. Width: 13" - Six Rollers - Independent Heat & Motor Switches - Variable, Electronic Heat Control - Heating Element: Four Heated Rollers - Warm-Up Time: 5 minutes - Cold setting - Max. Pouch Thickness: 10 mil
Both of these machines are equipped to handle high-volume, professional use, with the primary differences relating to the number of rollers and overall speed. The SpeedyLam 330R-10 from James Burn International laminates nearly four times as fast as the Akiles Pro-Lam Photo and has two four additional rollers, but the Akiles Pro-Lam Photo costs less than half of the price. Depending on your requirements and resources, either of these machines are capable of producing a high volume of laminated documents. You Need a Correct-Tek Copier Repair Services, Refurbished and New Copier Sales Parts..
4th Article
Should I Buy My New Copier From an Office Supply Superstore Or Not? It depends. You have a few options, but, first you have to figure a few things out. The last time you visited one of the office supply superstores like Staples, Office Max, or Office Depot, I'm sure you saw row after row of desktop units that copy, print, scan and/or fax. When I was an Account Executive and Sales Manager at a leading copier manufacturer, I spent a lot of my time fielding questions from small business owners asking if they really needed to go to a big copier company to purchase a new copier.
As I told them, here are a few things you should consider: 1. What is your total monthly copy and/or print volume? If you don't know the answer to this question, go and pull your invoices for your last paper purchase. Estimate what percentage of paper was used for which function. For instance: 60% used for print jobs, 30% for copy jobs and 10% for faxing. You bought 10 reams of paper at 500 sheets of paper per ream. You used it all up within a two-month time frame. Therefore, you copy and print approximately 2,000 images per month (90% of 5,000 sheets=4,000/2months, scans don't use up paper). If your volume is well below 1,000 per month, your needs are probably best served by the office supply superstore. Don’t stop there, but, read on... 2. Do you make any color prints or color copies? If so, how important is image quality to you? Generally speaking, the image quality on the desktop units is fairly basic and not conducive to the creation of impressive marketing materials or photo quality printing. The "big boys" do a better job at this. 3. Are you outsourcing any copy or print volume (black/white and color)? If so, have you considered bringing those jobs in-house? Oftentimes, it is cheaper to do these kinds of jobs on your own system, but, this increased volume should be computed into the final monthly volume for your new copy system. 4. Is your volume fairly even throughout the year, or do you have wide ranging spikes in volume during certain times of the year? For example, an accountant might see volume quadruple during tax time and would want to select a system that is able to withstand this level of seasonal wear and tear.
5. Once you find a model you are interested in at the office supply store, ask what the price is for the toner cartridge. Ask what the toner yield is and what the fill ratio is for that toner yield. Ask if the drum cartridge is a separate unit and if so, what the drum yield on that part is. Use this information to figure out what is your cost per copy/print for this model. The equation is: toner cost/toner yield + drum cost/drum yield= total consumable costs. The fill ratio is an important detail to ask about.
Usually, these figures are quoted on an industry wide standard of a 6% fill ratio. This means you take a blank piece of paper and transfer toner ink to only 6% of coverage on the page. Effectively, this is the equivalent of a two sentence letter. How often do you copy or print a page with much more ink on the page? I would imagine the answer is....a lot. You must account for this disparity by assuming the toner yield will truly only is about 25% of what was quoted to you. Compare this figure to the quote you receive from the copy manufacturer. Usually, you will pay much more for an equivalent copier purchased from a copy manufacturer, but, the cost to operate it, is often much less because the toner costs are much cheaper. It is well worth your time to make these comparisons to make sure you are getting the most bang for your buck. 6. Do you want to be able to call a service technician and have him come straight to your office to repair the system? Usually an office supply superstore requires you to bring the system into the store for repairs or even ship it back to the manufacturer yourself, if there are any problems. Make no mistake about it, the system will need repairs. 7. Do you want the option of leasing the equipment through a capital lease? There are many tax advantages as well as cash flow considerations in favor of leasing. A manufacturer of multifunctional devices can provide you with many leasing options that an office supply superstore cannot.
You have a lot to consider before you acquire the multifunctional device that keeps your business running like clockwork. You Need a Correct-Tek Copier Repair Services, Refurbished and New Copier Sales Parts..
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