The Surebind 3 Pro Binding Machine is a heavy-duty electric strip binder, using ten pin GBC Surebind Binding strips to provide a secure, tamper-proof bind. Similar to the GBC Velobind system , with the exception of the type of binding strip, the Surebind is the first choice of lawyers, government agencies and any other person or company producing sensitive documents and proposals.

Features:

The Surebind 3 Pro Binding Machine can bind documents up to 3" thick - one of the only binding systems that can create a bind for a document this thick. This is very important for anyone with large documents, proposals or other heavy-duty binding needs.

If a secure bind is important to you, this binder is an excellent choice. The Surebind is so secure, that if you want to add or remove pages, the strip must actually be cut with a debinding tool, and then rebound. Because of this, the Surebind 3 also includes a debinder tool.

This system uses a foot-pedal punching operation. This will let you hold your documents with both hands, to ensure a perfect line up and bound edge. If the foot pedal is not for you, the Surebind 3 Pro binding system also includes a button for occasional use. This electric punch is rated at 22 sheets per lift, though 20 sheets per lift is probably more realistic.

For documents that have been punched for comb binding, the Surebind system is also a good option, and perfect for rebinding your books and reports with a higher end look and feel.

Limitations:

While there are many pros for choosing a Surebind System, there are a few cons that must be considered. Most notably, the Surebind's binding strips are more difficult to find than many other binding systems. Because genuine GBC ten pin strips are the only strips that work with the system, (with no generic alternatives), this can add to the inconvenience factor of the system.

In addition to the limited binding strip availability, there are also a few limitations on the sizes and colors of the strips. The strips are available in Black for 1", 2" and 3" books and White and Navy for 1" books. Strips can also be purchased for 8.5" (landscape or half letter size) binding, and, in theory, the machine is can execute a legal sized binding. Since strips are not currently available for this size, however, it is impractical equipment if your needs include this, or any custom-binding sizes for

Construction:

The Surebind 3 Pro binding system is constructed with a heavy-duty plastic case. While quite sturdy, the machine is large and not very portable, weighing-in at nearly 100lbs. What the machine doesn't offer in portability, however, it makes up for with its convenient design. The punching unit is on the bottom of the system, and the binding unit on top, making it extremely accessible.

The Surebind's hot knife unit may eventually need replacement, but the good news is that these parts are readily available

Recommendation:

I would highly recommend the Surebind 3 Pro Binding System for users looking for a heavy-duty machine that can easily handle documents larger than 2" thick. The system is also great for applications where security is an important factor, given the strength of the bind and tamper-resistance that the system offers. The Surebind System 3 also creates a highly professional look and feel for reports or proposals and can give comb-bound documents a new look and feel. However, if you think that you expect that you might want to bind custom length documents or want special colors of binding strips then Surebind may not be the binding system for you.