Paper folders, also known as paper folding machines, are devices that form papers into different types of folds for various purposes. These tools are most often used in offices, print shops, mailrooms, and organizations where there is a pressing need to fold a huge number of documents in a short amount of time. These machines are essential to preparing large volume communications including letters, brochures, invoices, and other folded documents. Folders can handle diverse paper sizes and types, and implement many folding patterns.
These are the most popular patterns that folders execute:
1. Letter Fold (C-Fold): A document is folded in a sharp-angled “C” pattern, and generates three panels resembling a letter that can be placed into a regular business envelope.
2. Accordion Fold (Z-Fold): A document is folded in a “Z” pattern, producing many panels that unfold like an accordion.
3. Half Fold: A document is folded in half, making two equal-sized panels.
4. Double Parallel Fold: A document is folded in half two times, creating four equal-sized panels.
5. Gate Fold: A document is folded inward from the sides to meet in the middle, bearing resemblance to a gate.
6. Tri-Fold (Brochure Fold): A document is folded into three equal sections, like pamphlets and brochures.
7. Church Fold: A document is folded in three sections in a way that resembles a brochure fold. However, the center panel is slightly larger, so it tucks neatly under the other two panels.
8. Engineering Fold: A document is folded into a narrow width, with additional folds that can open out for detailed viewing.
What are Manual and Automated Paper Folders?
Paper folders can be manual or automated. In order to use a manual paper folding machine, the user has to manually feed each document into the folder, and make adjustments for each fold type by hand. They are best for occasional use, lower-volume environments, or users who don’t require frequent fold changes.
In contrast, automatic paper folding machines can fold large amounts of sheets in one pass. These tools come with programmable settings that allow users to select different fold types with little manual intervention. They have high-speed and high-capacity attributes, and are best for businesses with high-volume folding needs, especially those that constantly change fold types.
Our automatic Martin Yale 2051 SmartFold Paper Folding Machine has a feed tray capacity of 500 sheets, and has a folding speed of 3,000 to 15,000 sheets per hour. It can make letter, accordion, half, double parallel, gate, and tri-folds, as well as church and engineering folds.
What are Friction Feed and Air Feed Paper Folders?
Friction feed and air feed paper folders are two types of machines that use different mechanisms to pull paper into them for folding. Friction feed paper folding machines utilize rubber rollers to grip and tug individual sheets of paper into it. The friction developed by the rubber rollers moves the paper along the feed path to be folded.
Friction feed paper folders are appropriate for low to medium-volume use, and are popular in offices and small businesses. They are suitable for standard, uncoated paper, such as office printer paper or lightweight stocks.
Air feed paper folders use a suction or vacuum system to lift and separate each document. Then, a gentle air-blowing mechanism helps guide the paper into the device for folding. This causes minimal friction and lowers the chances of the paper sticking together.
They are ideal for high-volume and professional settings, like print shops and mailrooms. These environments use various types of paper and coatings. Air feed paper folders are useful for handling glossy, heavy, or textured paper stocks.
How to Pick the Best Paper Folding Machine
Selecting the best paper folding machine depends on your specific needs, volume, type of paper, and budget. Here are 4 tips for picking the best device:
1. Examine Volume
Volume refers to the amount of paper the machine can handle over a given period. It is the paper folder’s workload capacity, and should be considered when picking out a model. Volume influences factors like speed, durability, and maintenance requirements, and is categorized into low, medium, and high volume.
Low volume paper folders can fold under 7,500 sheets per hour. Medium volume paper folders can fold around 7,500 to 10,000 sheets per hour. High volume paper folders can fold 10,000 or more sheets per hour. Before buying a paper folder, assess how many sheets you fold in a typical day, week, or month. This will help classify your needs into low, medium, or high volume.
2. Evaluate Paper Weight, Size, and Specialty Papers Needed
Evaluating paper weight, size, and specialty paper requirements is essential for determining what kind of paper folder you want. Some of these tools can take in only standard paper sizes and weights, while others can deal with multiple paper sizes (like A4, legal, ledger) and weights (like heavy cardstock or lightweight paper).
Specialty papers include glossy, coated, and textured paper. If you are using these types of paper, make sure your model is compatible. Some models work better with basic copy paper, while others can fold papers with unique finishes.
3. Identify Your Regularly Used Fold Types
Identify the fold types you commonly use (see above for fold types). Establishing which fold types you want will help you select a paper folder that meets your criteria without paying too much for unnecessary features. Most products can execute basic folds like half, accordion, and tri-fold. Our Martin Yale 1611 AutoFolder Paper Folder processes invoices, brochures, newsletters, and creates these folds.
However, if you desire more complex folds like gate and double parallel, you will have to look for a more advanced paper folding machine that has settings for these folds. Our MBM 408A Programmable Tabletop Paper Folder is an advanced friction feed paper folding machine that can accomplish gate, double parallel, as well as cross folds (also known as right-angle folds).
4. Decide Your Budget
When choosing a paper folding machine, budget is the amount of money you’re willing to invest to buy a device. Decide on a price range based on your expected volume, paper types, and required features. Entry-level models are $100 to $500, and they are usually manual. They are basic products that perform low volume tasks and simple fold types.
Mid-range models are $500 to $2,000, and provide faster speeds, more fold settings, and greater durability. High-end models are $2,000 and up, are automatic, and have advanced features, such as programmable folds, high-speed operation, and compatibility with specialty papers. We recommend spending a little more for a reliable paper folder with long lasting use.
Our Low Volume Paper Folder
The WBBM 98M Manual Tabletop Paper Folder
Key Features:
- Speed: 7,200 sheets/hour
- Sheet Capacity: Up to 150 sheets
- Fold Types: Letter, Half, Accordion, and Double Parallel
- Paper Size: 4" x 5" to 8.5" x 14"
- Max Paper Weight: 116.63 g/m² / 31# Bond / 66# Index
- Price: $849.99
Our WBBM 98M Manual Tabletop Paper Folder is one of our more affordable options, and is excellent for churches, schools, and small companies with low volumes of paper. Users can set the fold type with an easy-to-use selector knob, and there are color-coded fold plates that help operators quickly distinguish and set up various fold types.
Each fold plate corresponds to a fold (like letter, half, accordion), and the color coding makes it more convenient to adjust the plates without needing to consult the user guide. This allows employees with little paper folding knowledge to be experts in using the machine. The paper folder comes with a powered, removable exit conveyor and exit tray, which will form your materials in a neat, folded stack.
Our Mid Volume Paper Folders
The Formax FD 324 Desktop Paper & Document Folder
Key Features:
- Speed: 8,600 sheets/hour
- Sheet Capacity: Up to 500 sheets
- Fold Types: Letter, Accordion, Half, and Double Parallel
- Paper Size: 4” x 5” to 12” x 18”
- Max Paper Weight: 112 g/m² / 30# Bond / 63# Index
- Price: $2,228.00
Our Formax FD 324 Desktop Paper & Document Folder come with removable fold plates that are labeled with letter, accordion, half, and double parallel folds in 11,” 14,” and 17” paper sizes. The machine has an LCD control panel, which is a digital screen that displays settings, counts, and operational statuses. The LCD control panel has a 3-digit counter that tracks the number of papers to be folded in each batch. The counter is resettable, and can be cleared back to zero at the start of a new batch so the user can keep accurate records for each folding task.
In addition, the counter has an AutoBatch feature that allows users to process a specific number of sheets with a pause between batches. This is perfect for groups of flyers or mailings. With AutoBatch, users don’t have to manually separate stacks and count during production. Instead, the Formax FD 324 effortlessly performs these tasks, and is valuable for time-sensitive mailing or promotional campaigns.
The Martin Yale 1217A AutoFolder Folding Machine
Key Features:
- Speed: 10,300 sheets/hour
- Sheet Capacity: Up to 250 sheets
- Fold Types: Letter, Half, Accordion, Double Parallel, Gate, Engineering, and Church
- Paper Size: 4” x 4” to 12” x 18”
- Paper Weight: 60 gsm to 240 gsm 16# Bond to 135# Off set
- Price: $1,785.41
Our Martin Yale 1217A AutoFolder Folding Machine is constructed with high impact steel side frames, and is manufactured with sturdiness, reliability, convenience, and longevity in mind. While the product has 4 standard folds (letter, half, accordion, double parallel), it also has adjustable fold plates for custom folds.
For example, there is an adjustable fold range of 2” and 11.5” for the first fold and 1.5” and 5.75” on the second fold. Furthermore, this device is able to fold multiple papers that are stapled together simultaneously, and is fully adjustable for a second folding pass using its manual bypass feature. This feature enables complex folds that require more than one pass through the machine.
Our High Volume Paper Folder
The MBM 208J Friction Feed Manual Paper Folder
Key Features:
- Speed: 14,400 sheets/hour
- Sheet Capacity: Up to 500 sheets
- Fold Types: Half, Letter, Accordion, Double Parallel, Fold Out, and Gate
- Paper Size: 3.5” x 5” to 11” x 17”
- Max Paper Weight: 115 g/m² / 30# Bond / 65# Index
- Price: $3,799.00
Our MBM 208J Friction Feed Manual Paper Folder has a test option feature, and permits the user to insert two sheets of paper to be run through the product, so they can check if a fold will work with the sheets’ paper size and weight. The control panel is on top of the device, and has a four digit LED counter with addition and subtraction functions. What is exceptional about the control panel is that it offers 3 folding modes: noise reduction, thick paper, and quick mode.
Noise reduction mode is designed so the operator can use the paper folder at a quiet level, and is optimal for offices that have little space. Thick paper mode is a setting where the machine can fold paper up to 80 lbs in weight with no inconsistency in folding quality. Quick mode, also known as Turbo Mode, can fold paper at an incredible 14,400 sheets per hour.
Here at Whitaker Brothers, we have a huge selection of paper folding machines, including manual, automatic, air feed, and friction feed folders. We offer low volume, mid volume, and high volume solutions.
For a free no obligation quote, contact us, and we will be in touch immediately. If you are unsure what paper folder to get, call our friendly customer service team at (800) 243-9226.
See also:
Why Colleges Should Use Paper Folding Machines in the Admissions Process
How to Choose the Best Folder Inserter
Is a Paper Folding Machine Worth It?
Fold Types for Paper Folding Machines
