What is a Letter Folding Machine?

A letter folding machine is a piece of equipment which is designed to fold paper. Low end machines are capable of making a basic C-fold in letter sized paper, used for professional correspondence, while others can handle uniquely sized papers, papers of unusual thickness, and more complex folding jobs. In a setting where large amounts of paper goods are processed, a letter folding machine can be extremely useful, and it will save employee time which might otherwise be spent on folding related tasks. For organizations that engage in mass mailing campaigns, a letter folding machine can be an important acquisition.

For a business that is considering the purchase of a letter folding machine, there are three concerns which should be taken into consideration when looking at available models. The first is the volume of folding which is needed. Letter folding machines do have limitations, so a business should ensure that the letter folding machine will be fast enough to keep up with the workload. Another issue is the frequency of folding jobs. A high volume machine which can stand up to hundreds of thousands of uses may be recommended for a company which sends out weekly mailers, for example. Finally, the types of folds needed should be thought about, as customized machines can offer quite an array of folding options. Paper thickness should also be considered, as should printing styles. Glossy papers, for example, require special handling.

Different feeding mechanisms are used for a letter folding machine, depending on the volume and type of paper it handles. A manual feed letter folding machine is designed for light use, such as folding business correspondence. A friction feed letter folding machine uses a series of wheels to pull paper into the machine for folding. These wheels can, however, leave smudges or damage the paper. The most expensive models use an air feed, which sucks paper in with a burst of air. For a business which handles glossy paper or delicate jobs, an air feed is usually recommended.

In addition to folding, some letter folding machines also have inserters which can be used to stuff envelopes. For high volume mailing, an inserter is an excellent idea. Others provide sealing capabilities, working with self sealing envelopes or paperwork. For big jobs, a batch counter can keep track of how much material has been produced. Other letter folding machines also have memory settings, allowing the user to store a complicated folding pattern in the machine, rather than reprogramming it every time.