One really nice thing about the GBC

The Proclick P200 binding machine includes punching mechanism that is
designed to punch up to sixteen sheets at a time. This punch will
produce a 3:1 pitch 32 hole pattern with oversized round holes. These
holes are larger than the standard holes use for wire binding. This
makes inserting your pages onto the Pro-Click spines easier. Although
the machine is technically rated for the punching of sixteen sheets I
found that punching twelve to fourteen sheets was much more
comfortable.
The P200 also has a built in closing tool on the top of the machine
that is designed to help you hang your pages on the Proclick spines and
should help you to close the loops. To use the closing tool you first
need to snap your spine into place under the small metal tabs. You then
hang the pages of your document onto the Proclick spine. Finally you
squeeze the two parts of the closing tool together and slide it across
to close your spines. To my knowledge this is the only machine to have
a closing tool like this. Unfortunately, I was unable to get the tool
to work very well (but we will talk about that in a few paragraphs).
The machine also has a built in opening tool. This is just a horn
shaped attachment that is on the top left side of the machine. In order
to use the opening tool you simply take your document and push the tool
through the closed spine of your book. This will cause your spine to
snap open so that you can edit your document. The design of the opening
tool is similar to the opening tool provided with the Proclick zipper
tools that come with each package of Pro-Click spines.
One really nice thing about the GBC P200 is that it offers a really
cool contemporary design. Its small footprint and unique styling make
It really eye catching and impressive. It also offers an ergonomically
designed punching handle that stretches across the entire front of the
machine. This makes this system ideal for individuals who are both left
handed and right handed. It also helps to reduce the risk of repetitive
motion injuries with lots of punching.
Limitations:
Perhaps the biggest limitation of the P200 is that the really unique
closing tool that is included on the machine doesn’t really work. Or if
it does work it is fairly difficult to use. After attempting to bind a
number of documents with the machine I found myself just snapping the
spines shut by hand (it was easier). The machine is still functional
without the closing tool. It can just be frustrating trying to figure
out how to use it.
The other major limitation of this machine is more a limitation of the
Proclick binding style that a problem with Automatic Blow Molding Machine Manufacturers the design of the machine.
Currently, spines are only available in four colors (Black, White, Navy
Blue and Frost) and in three sizes (small, medium and large). Spines
are not available longer or shorter than 11" in length. Thus, the P200
is only a good solution for organizations that need to bind documents
that are less than 100 sheets thick (approximately 5/8" thick) and are
8.5" x 11". For this reason, I often suggest that users look at
purchasing a 3:1 pitch wire binding machine instead of the P200 since
that type of machine provide the ability to bind documents with Wire
and Proclick. I also sometimes recommend the use of 3:1 pitch spiral
coil for individuals who already own the P200 since this type of coil
can be used with the hole pattern that this machine produces. However,
if you decide to try this you will need a pair of crimping pliers to
finish the coil.
The only other issue that I discovered when testing the P200 is that it
does not perform well with poly binding covers. I noticed that over a
period of a few weeks that the dies became dull and the holes were
sometimes left hanging off the side. In order to address this problem
it is recommended that you punch poly or plastic covers one at a time
on this machine along with a sheet or two of paper. The paper will help
to ensure a sharper cleaner punch and will help to eliminate the flex
that sometimes happens when punching plastic covers.
Construction:
As was noted above, the P200 includes a sleek ergonomic design. It is
made primarily of metal with some plastic components mixed in. However
I believe that the closing unit is poorly designed and that the punch
is not as sharp or strong as it should be. More than likely for
moderate volume users this will not present a problem. However, higher
volume users should probably consider a more robust wire binding
solution for their Proclick punching needs. It should also be noted
that the components on this machine are not designed to be repaired.
Replacement will be required if the machine ever breaks.
Recommendation:
After using the Proclick P200 for a while and binding a number of
documents with it I believe that it is a good solution for a small
office who needs to do a few books per week. However, for a similar
price you should be able to buy a wire binding machine that will
provide the ability to do additional sizes, use additional colors and
will still work with GBC Proclick binding spines. Or, for high volume
users I would recommend looking at the Proclick Pronto binding systems
which provide a high efficiency solution for inserting and closing the
spines on your documents.https://www.tzymjx.com/product/linear-full-automatic-bottle-blowing-machine/