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In 2007 GBC (General Binding Corporation) replaced the CombBind C100 with a new updated model. That new model was the C110 and it featured new styling and several new features. Today we are going to take a look at the New GBC C110 manual comb binding machine, its features, its limitations and its construction. Let's take a look...
Features:
The C110 is a manual plastic comb binding machine that is designed to be an introductory model for small to medium sized companies that need to assemble reports, presentations, proposals and training materials. This machine is officially rated for the punching of up to fifteen sheets of 20lb paper at a time. However, realistically you are going to be able to punch 12 or 13 sheets of paper comfortably. This is a significant improvement over some of the smaller machines that punch five to eight sheets at a time. However, it can still be very tedious for punching large reports and documents.
One improvement that GBC made when they replaced the C100 was that they replaced the old slot machine style handle with a bar style handle that stretches across the front of the C110. This new style of handle is not only more comfortable to use, it is also designed to be better ergonomically. This new handle design makes this machine better suited for individuals who are both left and right handed and should help to reduce the risk of repetitive motion injuries.
The C110 comb binding machine also has a convenient paper edge guide that allows you to adjust your machine for punching letter sized documents, oversized covers and A4 sized paper. This paper edge guide is the same type of guide as is found on the C50 and the C75. It is very easy to use and is ideal if these three paper sizes fit your binding needs.
The Combind 110 also comes equipped with a plastic comb opener that is capable of binding documents up to 300 pages in length (approximately 1-1/2"). Although it is not designed for use with 1-3/4" and 2" combs, it provides a significantly larger binding capacity than the C75 for not a lot more money. For most users, the ability to bind documents up to 1-1/2" should be more than adequate.
Limitations:
The Comb Bind C110 is a great binding machine. However, there are some things that it just simply does not include. One of these things is disengageable punching pins. This means that the C110 does not include the ability to stop one of the holes on the machine from punching. This feature is important for binding long documents (such as legal size or 11" x 17") or non standard sized documents. If you anticipate the need to bind shorter or longer documents you might want to consider a machine with disengageable pins.
The C110 also does not include a depth of punch margin control. This means that you have no control over the distance of the holes from the edge of the paper. Without this feature the C110 should not be used with 3/16" plastic combs. This is one of the reasons that this machine is not capable of handling the largest sizes of plastic combs (the other reason has to do with the design of the comb opener). The holes that it produces are too close to the edge of the paper on the C110 and thus they can easily tear out of the binding.
Construction:
The C110 is better built than many other small comb binding machines available on the market. It has a separate handle that operates the comb opener. This handle is metal and is nice since it helps to prolong the life of the comb opener since those components on the machine are not moving during the punching process. However, the body of the machine is still a combination of plastic and metal. It isn't a bad machine, it just isn't built with the durability that you will find in larger all metal options such as the C250 or the 210PB. This simply means that if something were to break on the C110 you are more than likely going to need to replace it rather than repair it. This is something that you should be aware of when purchasing this machine.
Recommendation:
The GBC Comb Bind C110 is a solid introductory comb binding machine that will fit well within a small to medium sized office that doesn't do a lot of binding. It is designed to meet the needs of the majority of users and handle small proposals and larger thicker documents. That being said, it would not be a recommended machine for high volume applications. In fact, if high volume users were to attempt to use this machine there is a good chance that they will end up replacing it within one to two years.
The GBC C800pro plastic comb binding machine has been around for years. It used to be called the Ibico EPK21 and at one point was actually orange. The color has changed but the machine really hasn't. Still, everyone knows that just because a machine has been around for a long time it doesn't mean that it is high quality. This review will take a quick look at the features, strengths and weaknesses of the GBC CombBind C800 pro binding machine. Take a look for yourself and evaluate whether this machine is right for you.
Strengths and Features:
One of the most important features to note when looking at the C800pro is its heavy duty electric punch. The punching mechanism uses a foot pedal activator that is included with the machine. The foot pedal allows you to hold your document with both hands during the punching process. This means that you are able to ensure that the pages are flush and square with every cycle helping to eliminate costly mispunches. The foot pedal and electric motor also greatly increase punching efficiency and reduce the risk for repetitive motion injuries.
The specs on the C800 Pro say that it can punch up to 25 sheets of 25 pound paper. However, in my experience most users are going to want to punch 20 or less. If you try to consistently punch the maximum number of sheets you will more than likely find that you will end up overloading your machine at times and have a difficult time fitting pages into the punching slot. However, this is true of any electric comb binding machine.
Unlike some of the other smaller GBC electric comb binding machines, the C800 pro also includes a depth of punch margin control and 21 fully disengageable die pins. These features allow the C800pro to be used for binding very thin books with combs as small as 3/16" or very thick books with oval shaped combs up to 2" in diameter. They also enable this machine to bind documents that are longer than 11" in length. However, binding longer documents with the C800pro will require a two step punching process and may require inserting some of the comb rings by hand. This does not make this machine an ideal solution for organizations that do a lot of legal sized binding.
Possible Weaknesses:
Although the C800pro is one of the best electric machines in its class there are a few things that are worth noting about the machine. First and foremost is the cost of the replacement motor. Unfortunately, the replacement motor costs as much to replace in the C800pro as an entire new machine. This is not usually a problem until the machine has been in service for a number of years. However, if the motor does burn out you can expect to buy a new binding machine. With this in mind, you will want to be careful when punching clear covers on the C800. No more than two plastic covers should ever be punched at a time on a machine like this. Punching more than two clear covers can ruin your motor or dull your punching dies.
The C800pro is designed for letter size, A4 size and half letter (landscape) documents. For users who primarily use these sizes of paper this is a great machine. However, it is not ideal for punching or binding legal or 11" x 17" documents. Several machines in the same class as the C800 are designed for legal punching and binding and might be better choices. However, these machines will still be difficult to use with 11" x 17" paper.
Construction:
The GBC C800pro is extremely well built and most users can use it for more than a decade without ever having a problem. All of the important components on the machine are made of high quality steel including the punching mechanism, comb opener, punching pins, handle and case. The foot pedal is strong and sturdy and the chad tray is oversized to accommodate a large number of punching chips. It is also worth noting that the machine is fairly compact and takes up less space than other similar pieces of equipment.
Conclusion:
The C800pro electric comb binding machine has been around for years and there is a reason. It is one of the best electric comb binding machines available on the market. It has almost all of the features that you will ever need. Plus, it has a proven track record in the field. GBC's one year warranty on this machine is adequate for most users. However, if you are concerned about the potential of high repair costs you might consider putting the machine under a maintenance contract. Still, I would highly recommend this machine for offices that do large amounts of comb binding or for organizations that are looking for a high efficiency electric comb binding solution.