GBC has always made innovative plastic comb binding machines and they’ve done it again with the brand new CombBind C12 and C20. These are state-of-the-art products that make comb binding quick and easy and are set to replace several of GBC’s old machines. (The products being phased out are the C55, C75, and C110.) But what exactly can these products do and which one is right for your office? Let’s compare the C12 and C20 to find out.
Punching and binding capacities: The C20′s punching and binding capacities are better than the C12′s. The C20 can punch up to 20 sheets at a time and bind documents containing 320 pages. The device can open and close combs that are 1.5” thick or less. Meanwhile the C12 can only punch 12 and bind 200, and it will work with combs that are up to 1” thick. (Both devices have color-coded spine selectors.) The C20 definitely has the advantage in this category. (Note: neither device has disengageable dies. However, both can handle letter-sized paper and oversized covers.)
Ease of use: Both of these machines are easy to use and they have instructions printed right on them for quick reference. Each one also has an ergonomically friendly handle that’s great for both right- and left-handed users. However, the C20 has the upper hand in this category because it features a low-force punch. This makes it extremely easy to punch your paper even when you’re punching at full capacity. Also, the punch is vertical so your paper will always be perfectly aligned before you punch it.
Size and appearance: These two items are pretty similar in size. The C12′s approximate measurements are 18” (width) x 8” (height) x 17” (depth) while the C20′s are 22” x 9” x 19”. Either one of these products will fit into small workspaces due to their compact size. And both of these machines look great. They’re sleek, black, and very modern-looking. The color-coded spine selector adds a nice burst of color to both of them.
Odds and ends: The C20 has an easy-to-empty chip tray that the C12 lacks. However, both machines have suction cups on the bottom so they’ll stay in place during use.
Price and warranty: Both of these products come with a one-year warranty but they have very different prices. The C12 is the less expensive one – it will set you back less than $115.00. Meanwhile, the C20′s price point is set at just over $200.00. You’ll need to take a look at your budget and decide which item is more affordable for you.
As you can see, the GBC CombBind C12 and C20 are great comb binding machines. However, the C20 definitely has an advantage over the other device due to its larger punching and binding capacity and low-force punch. However, it’s also more expensive and price can definitely be a consideration when purchasing a product such as this. Whichever one you choose, you can be confident that you’re getting a first-rate machine that will provide you with a way of producing professional-looking documents.