One overlooked, yet nonetheless classy form of binding is thermal binding, and as is the case with other forms of binding, you need to choose the right binder machine for the best results. Currently, two of the best machines in this particular category are the Fastback 9 and the Unibind XU338. These two machines are pricier than average binding machines, but after reviewing and testing both of these machines, they’re every bit worth the higher price tag.
The Unibind XU338, which costs nearly $1,000, stands out for its three heating units which allow users more multi-tasking capability. You can bind more than one documents at once as long as they do not exceed a total 108 millimeters heating units. Unlike the usual thermal binder machine, the XU338 does not require any warm-up time, and it can easily fit on your desktop due to its relatively small size. Unfortunately, the XU338 can only bind up to a 340-page maximum, and would specifically require any one of several Unibind covers available in the market.
Pricier at around $2,000 is the Fastback 9, which is a powerful binding machine with extrraordinary speed – it can bind documents as fast as 35 to 45 seconds through its Fastback FoilFast technology. That means you can bind books at a rate about three times faster than other comb, wire or coil binding machines! Like the XU338 it requires no warm-up time, and is versatile enough to work with different sizes of paper (up to A4 size) and supports both medium and narrow glue strips. But unlike other higher-end Fastback machines, it can only bind books up to 250 pages in length. It is, however, small and compact enough to fit on a desktop.
After evaluating both thermal binding machines’ strengths and weaknesses, we can say that the Fastback 9 is the better machine despite its higher price tag and limited binding capacity of 250 pages. If you’re looking for speed in your book binder machine, this is one of the best choices out there, and doesn’t require special supplies unlike the Unibind XU338. Both are still great machines overall, but at the end of the day, the Fastback 9 holds a slight edge.