A thermal binding machine made for just about any and all volume users, the Fastback Model 11 can bind documents that are up to one hundred twenty five pages or a half inch thick. With a warm up time of about three and a half minutes, the Model 11 binds books in a remarkable twenty seconds time. In keeping with the Fastback tradition, the Model 11 is well suited to use in most any office, high volume print shop, or on site production floor. The 11 advertises itself as quiet, quick and simple to use. Let s take a closer look at this binding machine and some of its pros and cons.
Pros:
1. With its capability of binding documents anywhere from two to two hundred fifty pages, Powis Parker clearly designed the Fastback Model 11 to be a high volume, lower cost compliment to its venerated FB15xs CP system.
2. Fairly versatile for a thermal binding system, the Model 11 will bind hardcover, perfect bound books, as well as tape bound docs with their proprietary SuperStrips.
3. One of the most basic and simple tape binding systems out there, the Model 11 has earned a reputation as one of the most maintenance free thermal binding machines available on the market.
4. Because it uses only the aforementioned SuperStrips, the Model 11 give users the advantage of only needing to keep that single supply on hand. This is, of course, a rarity in the thermal binding game, where it is not uncommon for users to have to keep shelves full of supplies in inventory to handle different document thicknesses.
Cons:
1. While its simplicity is a strength, it can also be considered a weakness. The Fastback Model 11 is a pretty basic thermal binding system, and as such, is designed to work only with a certain size of binding strip. This means that there are a whole slew of Parker supplies, strip sizes and covers that this particular machine is not capable of handling.
2. While the FB15xs CP features an LED display, the Model 11 does not. The LED on the FB15 gives you easy access to the menu, and enables the user to do some form of diagnostics, or to change certain settings and make adjustments. The Model 11 does have three indicator lights to denote if the machine is ready, and the bind cycle stage. The LED is missed, especially when it comes to diagnostics.
3. The Model 11 will cost you less than the FB15, but it is more expensive than some other similarly capable thermal binding machines out there.
Recommendation:
The Model 11 seems to be a relatively low cost secondary system to the FB 15, and will function beautifully in either a complimentary role, or as a standalone. We ve found that a lot of Fasback users like to have the 11 on hand, as it functions at a much lower cost, and has comparable binding speeds. A great choice for schools, and on site production floors in mid to large sized businesses, the Model 11 offers an elegant finished product with no paper punching involved. It is also extremely easy to use, and doesn t take up much space, either when in use or stored.
Author Resource:
Jeff McRitchie is the designer and Director of Marketing for http://www.mybinding.com .He has written over 500 articles on binding machines,binding covers,binders,laminators,binding supplies,laminating supplies,paper handling equipments,index tabs, and shredders.