Binding Machines

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Things to consider before purchasing a binder.

The type of binding machine you choose depends on both the intended purpose of the documents and your budget. You can choose from several binding methods, each with its own pros and cons depending on the purpose of the document, need for durability, best appearance and cost. 

You will want to buy a machine that will work with the volume you need to bind. If you are only binding a few books per day, a low volume binder should work for you. If you will be binding more, a larger machine that has higher punching capacity will be a good investment.  They punch more paper at a time and are made with stronger material for better durability and quality.

Each machine is specific to one kind of binding.  A single machine will not handle all the different types of binding so you will need to purchase more than one machine if you don't want to be limited to just one kind of binding.

Paper Cutters & Trimmers

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Paper Folders & Paper Folding Machines

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Here is a quick overview of what to look for when shopping for paper shredders.

Volume/Capacity

Throat

The opening where you feed the paper into the shredder needs to be large enough to accommodate the size of paper you typically shred. An 8.75 or 9 inch throat handles unfolded letter size paper nicely. A smaller throat size requires folding the paper but if most of your shredding is of credit card or ATM receipts, it works fine.

Basket Size

This is important because of how often you will have to empty the basket.  If you are doing a good deal of shredding you should get a bigger shredder to avoid having to empty the shreddings constantly throughout the day.

Extra Features

Shredders come with various combinations of features. With Automatic start/stop the shredder detects the presence of paper. Some shredders provide a light or buzzer to alert you to paper jams or a full shredder basket. Reverse Feed is useful for helping to clear out paper jams. A clear basket or window also helps you see when the basket needs emptying.

Supplies

There are shredder bags made to custom fit the shredder you want to purchase.  Also there is oil that you need to get especially if you are getting a cross cut model.  You will need to lubricate the blades with the oil to keep the shredder working optimally.

FACTA

The new FACTA Law Makes Shredding More Important Than Ever
By now, almost everyone in America is familiar with the term "identity theft." Most businesses and a growing number of individuals are taking steps to protect themselves from becoming the next victim of America's fastest growing crime. Shredding documents for disposal has always been a vital step in preventing ID theft, but in June of 2005, the Disposal Rule section of the FACTA security law was enacted which makes shredding a necessity for businesses of any size, as well as individuals who employ even one person.

FACTA Disposal Rule Defined
Developed by the Federal Trade Commission, FACTA stands for Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act. Designed to minimize the risk of identity theft and consumer fraud, the Disposal Rule section of FACTA became law on June 1, 2005. The Disposal Rule states that any person who maintains or otherwise possesses consumer or employee information for a business purpose is required to properly dispose of the information. This includes information used, or expected to be used, to establish eligibility for credit, insurance, or employment. In addition, all information contained in or derived from consumer reports and records must be properly disposed to protect against unauthorized access to or use of the information. This part of FACTA was developed to cut down on the incidences of identity theft by, among other methods, restricting the ability of thieves to "dumpster dive" for valuable consumer information contained in discarded business records. The Disposal Rule goes on to say that all employers must take "reasonable measures" to protect against unauthorized access to or use of the information in connection with its disposal. These measures include:

• burning, pulverizing, or shredding of physical documents
• erasure or destruction of all electronic media

The main difference between the FACTA Disposal Rule and previously existing security laws such as HIPAA, Sarbanes-Oxley, and Gramm-Leach-Bliley is that it does not affect a single industry - it affects every business and many households in America.
With FACTA, Congress is attempting to curb the financial losses and emotional distress associated with identity theft. The new provision also sends a message to business owners nationwide that if someone's identity is stolen and the company is found liable, the company can be sued by an individual, embroiled in a class action law suit or fined up to $1,000 by the state, and up to $2,500 per infraction by the federal government. Those may not sound like excessive fines, but most identity thieves don't steal just one name, they steal as many as they can.

Are You Affected by FACTA?
If you employ someone, then the FACTA Disposal Rule affects you. Every employer in the US is required to properly and effectively destroy all documents and material that contain sensitive employee or consumer information. Specifically, this applies, but is not limited to:

• businesses that use consumer information in their everyday operations, such as banks, lenders, insurers, auto dealers, realtors, and medical facilities
• service providers that store consumer reports and information, such as record and information management companies
• service providers that destroy information, such as recyclers, waste management or technology disposal companies

Importantly, the FACTA Disposal Rule is not limited to only companies or small businesses. It affects you as the homeowner as well. If you hire a nanny, tutor, yardman—anybody whose employment requires the exchange of sensitive information—you are responsible for the handling and disposal of that information. If you don't shred and information leaks out, you could be subject to civil or class-action lawsuits, as well as state and federal fines.

Shredding is Your First Line of Defense
Often, the first thing people think about when it comes to data security is their computers. Viruses, hacking - they're all over the news and on people's minds. It's true that hackers pose a threat, but so does your trash can. Firewalls and security programs will not protect you from "dumpster diving," which remains the most common means of collecting information used in identity theft. A quality shredder is always your first line of defense.

For more information about FACTA, visit the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) website at www.ftc.gov (search for FACTA)