Overview:
The Coilmac EPI is a heavy-duty electric spiral coil-binding machine with both an electric punch and an electric coil inserter. This binding machine is one of the largest and most impressive desktop combination units on the market today. The Coilmac EPI offers all of the right features for any medium to large organization.
Features:
The Coilmac EPI has one of the largest punch-capacities available in a desktop binding machine. It's official punching capacity is 25 sheets for 20lb bond paper, but 22 sheets is actually more accurate. The machine can punch 2 clear covers at a time, using a foot pedal control, allowing you to hold your document in both hands while punching and inserting.
The machine's open-throat design allows you to punch longer documents, by using the continuous punching guide. The guide is a small metal pin on the side of the punching throat that helps you align the document while you flip it over to punch the other side.
The punching guide is not where the extras end, however. The machine also includes a pair of coil crimping pliers to help you finish your coil bound documents and a depth-of-punch margin control, to allow adjustments for hole locations within the diameter of the page. In addition, the Colimac EPI allows adjustments for binding 8.5", 11", A4 and A5 paper and punching 14" legal sized paper and other longer documents.
Finally, unlike most coil-binding machines, the Coilmac EPI can handle oversized covers by moving the paper guide to align the last pin on the machine with the corresponding hole on the cover.
Limitations:
The Coilmac EPI has a variety of unique benefits, but there are some limitations to take into consideration. While not a widespread issue, the machine doesn't offer fully disengageable dies, making it difficult to work on customosized, non-standard documents.
In addition, the machine's single foot pedal requires the flip-of-a-switch to change from inserting to punching. This makes the machine less efficient for users who prefer to punch one book at a time and then insert the coil. With the EPI its faster and more efficient to punch first, then insert the coils
If you work with very large volumes, you may be better served with a stand-alone coil inserter and a modular punch that allows two users to work on a project at one time
Construction:
With heavy duty all metal construction, the Coilmac EPI is built "like a tank." It weighs almost 75lbs and is designed for long lasting durability. This durability makes the coil mack the ideal machine for any medium to high volume applications.
The only part on the EPI that requires regular replacement is the small rubber belt that drives the coil inserter. The belt is simple to replace and only costs a few dollars. Any other components on the EPI can be replaced, but it's usually not necessary. If the need arises, however, the EPI is much easier, and cost-effective to repair than most desktop binding units.
Recommendation:
I would highly-recommend the Coilmac EPI for anyone looking for a solid spiral-coil binding solution for mid-high volume projects. The machine is built to last and should be able to handle almost any job that you have for it.
Higher volume users may need a separate coil inserter or even an additional stand-alone inserter, which may affect the ultimate decision to purchase the Coilmac EPI. In most every other way, however, the EPI is effective and efficient for your needs. You really can't go wrong with the Coilmac EPI.
