GBC MP2000W3 Modular Fixed Die 3:1 Pitch Twin Loop Wire Binding Punch Review

Overview:

The GBC MP2000W3 is a fixed die modular binding punch that produces a 32 hole square hole pattern (on an eleven inch sheet) for use in binding documents with 3:1 pitch twin loop wire.
It is meant to be used in a small to medium sized organization that needs to bind documents using twin loop wire.
This machine does not include a wire closer but instead is designed to be combined with either the GBC MC50 manual wire closer or the GBC TL2900 electric twin loop wire closer.
The MP2000-W3 can be used by a single operator who does both the punching and binding or can be used as part of an assembly line to help increase productivity.

Strengths / Features:

This machine is designed with a vertical punching throat. This allows users to use gravity to help align their pages for punching. As pages are inserted into the MP2000W3 you can simply tap them on base of the punch and slide them into place. This is helpful for making sure that your pages are always lined up for punching and eliminates costly mispunches.
The MP2000-W3 is a medium duty wire binding punch that is capable of punching up to sixteen sheets of twenty pound paper at a time. It produces a three to one pitch hole pattern that has three holes per inch (32 holes on an 11" binding edge). Although there are certainly machines on the market that are capable of punching more sheets, this machine does an excellent job and offers exceptional punching quality. The hole pattern produced by this punch can be used for binding documents with 3:1 pitch wire, GBC Proclick and with special 3:1 pitch spiral coils.
The MP2000W3 has convenient and easy to use punching controls. You can activate the punch by pressing the conveniently located palm switch on the front of the machine. Or if you prefer you can use the heavy duty foot pedal control that is included with this machine. In general the push button control will be faster for short run production while the foot pedal will be better for long runs. However, the choice is really yours.
The modular nature of this machine allows it to be used as part of an assembly line for creating wire bound documents. By having one person punch your documents while another person binds it is possible to almost triple your productivity over the use of a standard all in one binding machine. This can present substantial cost savings to your organization and gives you an option for completing those important jobs quickly and efficiently.
The MP2000W3 uses a fairly unique edge guide control that is easy to adjust and move. I was impressed at how easy it was to move the edge guide and lock it in place with precision. This makes setting this machine up for punching different sized documents a lot easier.

Weaknesses / Limitations:

This machine is designed to produce a 3:1 pitch hole pattern that is traditionally used with twin loop wire. However, 3:1 pitch wire is only available in sizes between 3/16" and 9/16". If you need to bind documents that are larger than this you will need to choose a different binding style. If you want to use wire to bind larger documents you will need a machine that can punch a 2:1 pitch hole-pattern. Many organizations opt to purchase an interchangeable die punch such as the MP2500ix which allows them to switch punching patterns in order to bind both large and small documents.
The MP2000-W3 has a two second punching cycle. The punching cycle is a measurement of the time that it takes for the machine to punch a lift of paper and reset itself so that it is ready to punch again. A two second cycle is fairly comparable to the punches that are included on most desktop wire binding machines. However it is fairly slow for a modular binding punch.
This machine does not come with a wire closer for finishing your books. However, in order to use this machine with 3:1 pitch twin loop wire you need to have a wire closer. GBC makes two options for wire closers that can easily be stacked on top of the MP2000W3. The MC12 is a twelve inch manual wire closer and the TL2900 is a heavy duty electric wire closer. Both machines work great, the choice will mostly depend on your budget and how many documents you need to bind.
The MP2000W3 does not have fully disengageable dies. Instead, there is a small section on the machine behind the punching slot that flips up. Inside that section there are seventeen disengageable punching pins. Using these pins and the open throat design of this machine it is possible to punch virtually any size of document. However, if you have a particular document size that you need to bind it is a good idea to check first to see if this machine can be configured for use with that length of sheet.

Recommendation:

The MP2000W3 is ideal for small and medium sized companies that are looking for a high quality electric punch for binding documents with 3:1 pitch twin loop wire.
This machine is designed to be used along with a modular double loop wire closer which can be conveniently stacked on the top of the punch or can be used on the side in an assembly line fashion.
This machine is an excellent option for organizations that only do one type of binding and want to increase their productivity without breaking the bank.
However, organizations that do a lot of punching or who need to bind documents with multiple binding styles should really look at an interchangeable die binding punch such as the MP2500ix or the GBC Magnapunch.

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