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.

Pros: Inexpensive, compact in size and easy to operate.

Cons: Designed to feed bond stocks up to 90-lb. index. Coated stocks are usually not recommended. Friction collators have a tendency to cause marking problems in the feeding area where the rubber rollers make contact with the sheet and the paper separator. Friction collators have a small paper bin capacity and are designed for low- to medium-volume use. They are unable to cope with static and offset powder.