If you’re in the market for a collator, these tips should help you find the most appropriate device for your in-plant and get the best results from it.

Electronic and mechanical devices to guarantee accurate and consistent production; variable speed control for easy makeready; air blasts to help separate materials for dependable feeding. Can it run different sizes, weights or types of materials in the same cycle? Can it be programmed to run a different number of pieces of product from each individual pocket? Also, look for missing- or double-sheet detection, deep-pile feeders, deep-pile delivery and the ability to upgrade with new features like bookletmaking, side/corner stitching, gluing, folding, numbering and shrink wrapping.