Does your organization do a lot of binding? For companies who bind large numbers of books and documents, an interchangeable die binding punch is a logical choice. These heavy duty binding punches are designed for high volume punching applications and allow you to quickly and easily change punching styles in just seconds. However, not all modular punches are the same and trying to discern the differences between the different punches can sometimes be difficult. This article is designed to provide you with five tips for choosing a modular binding punch.

1. Look for the punching capacity. Some interchangeable die punches are capable of punching as many as 55 sheets per lift. Others are only capable of punching 15-20 sheets. Most fall somewhere in between. Depending on the volume of binding that your organization does, you may or not need an extremely large punching capacity. When choosing a binding punch, it is important to remember that you shouldn’t punch the full capacity of the machine with every lift. You should also recognize that depending on the punching pattern that you choose, the punching capacity might be less than the maximum.

2. Consider the maximum punching length offered by the punch. Some interchangeable die punches are fourteen inches wide so that they can be used with legal sized documents. However, many punches are only capable of punching letter size documents. If you plan on binding legal size documents you will want a fourteen inch throat. If you need to bind larger documents you will want to make sure that you get an open throat.

3. Figure out how difficult it will be to change the dies. The best modular binding punches allow users to simply slide dies in and out of the side of the machine. With these machines, changing dies takes only a few seconds. However, other punches require loosening bolts and thumb screws in order to change dies. These machines take much longer to change over and are not ideal for print shops or organizations where frequent die changes are required.

4. Do you prefer a vertical or a horizontal punching mechanism? Some modular binding punches have a horizontal punching throat allowing you to insert the document into the front of the machine. Others have a vertical punching slot requiring users to insert their pages into the top of the machine. Each style has its strengths and weaknesses and some users swear by each style. Personally, I find the horizontal throat to be more efficient than the vertical throat.

5. How fast is the punching cycle on the punch that you are considering? Larger modular binding punches have continuous cycle motors with incredibly fast punching cycles. These punches require fractions of a second to punch a document. Other punches have slower cycles and can take a couple of seconds to punch. Although this doesn’t seem like a long time, it makes a huge difference in the productivity that you get from your machine.

With these five things in mind, you are now prepared to choose a modular binding punch that will fit your needs. Take a look at the options, compare the features and choose the machine that is right for your needs. Just remember to compare other features such as manufacturer reputation, warranty and also price.