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.

—Hartmut Sohn, MBO America

Machine speed is important but only in how it effects actual overall productivity. Other key factors that are equally if not more important are ease of operation, efficiency of loading and unloading, minimal down-time for loading and unloading, ability to handle difficult stocks and overall reliability of the equipment.