Open Forum

  • 1.  Insert trim size question

    Posted 11-08-2017 04:12 PM

    Hi Everybody!

    Bell & Howell Mailstar 500 swing arm inserter. How much smaller than the envelope does the inserted piece need to be? I was told 1/4" clearance on each side but many of our clients insist on no more than 1/8" on each side. What say ye?

     

    Bill Fechner, CEO

    The Advertisers Printing Company

    1229 South Vandeventer Avenue
    Saint Louis, Missouri 63110

    email: wf@...

    phone: 314-652-9924 ext. 201

    adv logo2

     



  • 2.  RE: Insert trim size question

    Posted 11-09-2017 05:58 AM
    1/4" each side for optimal production speed 


    L.F.  Miller

    ImageMark Business Services, Inc.

    3145 Northwest Blvd. | Gastonia, NC 28052

    O: 704.865.4912 | F: 704.478.8977 | E:lf.miller@...

     

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  • 3.  RE: Insert trim size question

    Posted 11-09-2017 07:43 AM
    Good morning Bill

    I agree with Mr. Miller, (L.F. to his close friends), 1/4" on each side is ideal, however you should be able to run with 1/8" on each side, although you will likely have to slow the machine down.

    I've actually seen a swing arm run with only a total of 1/8" clearance, however I think I could have had inserted the job faster. 

    Your clients should understand that when you open an envelope to insert it, the length becomes shorter and clearance becomes less.

    Hope this helps.

    GPH

    ------------------------------
    George Heinrich
    Idealliance Consultant & Trainer
    The Postal Professor
    Parker CO
    303-325-3048
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Insert trim size question

    Posted 11-09-2017 08:50 AM
    !/4" each side is a good rule of thumb. !/8" is problematic, it will slow you down and create jamming issues. We do it sometimes and it's always a bear.

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    Tim Martin
    Bindery and Mailing Supervisor
    Technaprint, Inc.
    Eugene OR
    541-344-4062
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Insert trim size question

    Posted 11-09-2017 09:36 AM
    ​As with the other responses, 1/4" is really the minimum in order to achieve rated production speeds on the machine. I would not budge on those requirements. 1/8" REALLY SLOWS down production, with many jams and ruined stock. If you must mail 100% of the mailing, do not go less than 1/4". In my experience if you tell one person 1/8" than everybody wants 1/8". Good luck !

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    Carlos Baez
    Epsilon
    West Chicago IL
    630-562-3274
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Insert trim size question

    Posted 11-09-2017 10:09 AM

    On all of my swing arms I like to have .25 total clearance but if I sacrifice some speed I can make even less work.

     

    Billy Goldsmith

    Mail Solutions, LLC

    864-277-1234




    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Insert trim size question

    Posted 11-09-2017 10:18 AM

     Your 1/8" clearance disappears when you open the envelope.  Just had a 9" piece (max size for the pocket) with several smaller pieces into a preaddressed#10.  Total contents 3/16" thick.  Running with a minimum opening of the throat on the envelope, we had less than 1/8" clearance each side.  Got the job done, ran as slow as the machine would run with a lot of jams, trash, and reprints.  Be sure to charge enough to cover these costs.  I don't believe that there is another machine, other than a swing arm, that could even think about tackling a job with these clearances.

     

     Mock up some pieces, have your customer try and insert them by hand.  If they can't insert it by hand, you can't do it on a machine.  By the way, on some approvals for specialty envelopes the USPS only allows 0.20" insert shift.  That is 0.1" on each side of the contents.  Of course, they are not worried about production, just keeping non-traditional envelopes (white#10s) out of the mail stream!

     

    Todd Butler

    Butler Mailing Services

    513-870-5060

    toddb@...

    www.butlermail.com

     




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