PUNCHES AND STAPLERS

Punch are the ideal organisational tool, used in offices around the world to sort and file papers in folders.

Punches are usually categorised by the number of holes that they punch at one time. The type of filing system that your customer uses will determined the kind of punches they need. Punches with different holes are used for filing papers in ring binders, three-ring binders or standard lever-arch files.

Single-hole punches are often used at events to punch tickets to prevent them being redeemed twice. They are also used within loyalty programmes, where a customer is issued a card and each time a purchase is made. Single-hole punches are used to create a hole to mark the progression of purchase and reward stages.

Two-hole punches are used for tworinged files, as seen in small offices and learning institutions.

Three-hole punches make it easy to use the standard printer paper required to be filed in three-ringed notebook files.

Lever handle punches are adjustable, allowing the user to punch anywhere from two to seven holes. They feature a heavy base for stability, a calibrated position guide and a removable paper pan to dispose of offcuts.

Electric punches offer ease of use, as no physical exertion is required by your customer to punch holes accurately and quickly.

Portable electric versions are also available for use at events or exhibitions or when moving between departments within a large enterprise. Electric punches are automatic and effortless, and are ideal for frequent use on large jobs when speed and accuracy are critical. Electric binding machines also offer a punching capability as part of the binding process.

An important aspect to consider when selling punches to your customers is the sheet capacity. Heavy-duty punches are capable of taking up to 160 sheets at a time. They are suited to large-scale projects, such as those found in the corporate and manufacturing industries. These models require virtually no effort when punching stacks of sheets, getting the job finished faster and more accurately.

Punches are available in an array of styles, shapes and sizes. They can be made of metal or plastic. Metal punches are usually stronger and more robust, and their moving parts last longer than their plastic counterparts.

The metal or plastic cover of the punch can be any colour, with the most common being white, black or silver. The choice of colour can be matched to the corporate identity if desired.

Many punches come with some type of alignment indicator. This is usually in the form of a plastic strip which is housed under the punch base. This strip can be pulled out and used to indicate standard paper sizes, such as A4 or A5. Once the correct size of paper is inserted against this strip, the holes will be punched in the correct location for filing.

Most punches come with a base that contains the paper chad (circular punched out pieces of paper). The base is cast as part of the punch, and comes with a removable plastic lid for easy emptying.

Some punches have a special release gate for this purpose.

Another useful value-add is an angled base for easy paper insertion. Some punches have paper guides with a window for ease of setting.

Paper punches may have handles that lock in place, making the punch flat for easy storage in a desk drawer or cupboard.

Staplers are a useful organisational tool for home, office and educational environments. The outer cladding of staplers is generally made of plastic or metal, while the internal mechanism is metal.

For those who are environmentallyconscious, staplers manufactured from 100% post-industrial recycled plastic may be purchased. These often come in recycled cardboard packaging printed with petroleum-free, soy-based inks.

Specialist staplers will allow your customers to complete more usual jobs, such as booklet making and tacking.

Hand-held staplers are an essential retail and office supply item. They come in compact sizes and shapes for everyday use.

Half-strip staplers are smaller and compact and hold a half strip of staples (approximately 105 staples). Recommend half-strip staplers to students or to homeoffice users, as they are more compact and take up less space on a desk or in a laptop bag.

Full-strip staplers can be loaded with a full strip of staples (approximately 210 staples), which makes them more popular for high-volume office use. Customers will find this more useful as they will have to refill them less often.

On average, a standard desktop stapler can fasten up to 20 sheets at a time, while a heavy-duty stapler is suitable for stapling up to 100 sheets at a time.

Long reach staplers have an extra-long arm which allows the teeth to reach to the centre of a stack of papers. These should be considered if your client needs to make up booklets. Long reach staplers generally staple 25 to 30 sheets at a time.

Electric staplers feature an automatic arm that triggers when paper is inserted. Always ensure your customers purchase a model with a safety switch. This is a security measure that will prevent accidental operation.

Portable or hand-held staplers are smaller in size, meaning they can be attached to a keyring or be clipped onto a work bag or mobile work station. Larger sizes have higher stapling capabilities and an integrated staple storage compartment in order to keep extra staples handy. Small, pocketsize staplers can fit into students’ bags and backpacks and some feature a built-in staple remover too. They can staple up to 12 sheets of paper.

Portable electric staplers operate on battery power or AC adapters. They come with an LCD display to indicate when to add new staples.

Staple guns are larger pieces of equipment suited to packaging tasks and DIY projects. Manual staple guns feature a high tension spring which enables tacking to a range of base materials. Pneumatic staple guns work on the power of compressed air. The air drives the staple into the substrate. Electric or battery-operated staple guns obtain their power from a current. Staple guns are an ideal tool for decoration and repairs around the home or office.

To avoid jams, advise your customers to use only the recommended staple type and size for the model of stapler in question. They should not staple above the stated sheet capacity. If the stapler will be used by multiple users, customers should consider purchasing one with a jam-free mechanism.

Light-use staplers are usually simple devices made from lightweight materials. They are ideal for occasional use in the home or office environment. They have basic features and are used for infrequent filing tasks.

Regular-use staplers are made from more durable metal. They have a higher level of reliability and are used in the standard office environment. These types of staplers may have special features such as a flat clinch staple finish; mechanism which require low force to use them; and an ergonomic design with soft or padded touch points for comfort.

Heavy-duty staplers are designed for high-volume use. They can staple more than 60 sheets of 80gsm paper at a time. They are sturdy and robust and made from durable materials.

In terms of aesthetics, staplers come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colours.

There are a number of different mechanisms by which papers can be stapled.

Permanent clinch is the most commonly-found stapling mechanism. This mechanism delivers a long-lasting, closed-staple clinch. Opening the staple requires a staple remover.

Flat clinch is another type of stapling mechanism which lays the staple legs flat against the paper, thereby cutting filing space by as much as 30%.

Pinning is available on staplers whose anvil can be swivelled. Paperwork is then temporarily secured in a pinning fashion, making it easy to release the documents by hand.

Tacking is a form of stapling used for fastening paper or textiles to bulletin boards or wooden surfaces. The ends of the staple are not bent over, but sunk vertically into the backing material.

Another design point to consider is how the staples will be loaded.

A bottom loader allows for the base of the stapler to be removed and the staples inserted, while a top-loader lets the user open the top of the stapler to insert staples that way.

Front-load staplers that have a staple magazine that pops open from the front; and back-load models which have a staple tray that extends from the rear of the stapler.

Staples are usually supplied with the choice of stapler your customers purchase. It is important to remember that higher-capacity staplers also need larger or high-capacity staples. These will have longer legs and sharper teeth, allowing them to reach through larger stacks of paper. The thicker the stack of papers to be stapled, the longer the vertical legs of the staple must be to ensure it is correctly cinched. These types of staples may come in staple cartridges for easier loading.

Although most staples are silver, coloured staples are available, allowing for colour co-ordination for business documents, such as annual reports.

In addition to the stapler, your customer will require a staple remover. These devices quickly and effortlessly remove staples without damaging the document in question. They are available in claw, scissor, pen and easy-glide remover types.

Another point of upsell is a stapler with a name plate. This allows for the engraving of the users’ initials or the company name.

Also advisable for customers working in busy environments is a stapler with an attached security loop. This allows for the stapler to be secured to a counter or desk with a tie of some kind, and ensures that it won’t be stolen or misplaced. �