Have you ever wondered how food is processed and prepared for the store? It may not be at the top of your list, but it is still very interesting. If proper care is not taken, food can easily spoil. Bacteria sets in and causes the food to rot. Rotten food is both tastes bad and can be dangerous. Rotten food can also cost stores a lot of money in lost merchandise. Several types of food preservation are available to extend shelf life. These preservation methods help eliminate and slow a variety of bacteria, fungus and more.

Salting food used to be widely practiced to help preserve meat. Food was kept outside during cooler times to preserve food. Refrigerators were later introduced to help slow down bacteria. Refrigerators can now be widely found in both stores and homes. Putting all food in refrigerators is expensive and not economical for grocery stores. Due to cost, other methods have been invented to help preserve food. One of the more popular methods is the vacuum sealer.

Vacuum sealers put food in an airtight environment that prevents bacteria and fungus from growing.
Vacuum sealers remove air and seal products in a bag. This eliminates the vital oxygen that most bacteria require to grow. The finished vacuum-sealed bag can then be placed on a shelf, hung on a wall or be put in a refrigerator for superior preservation.

Chamber sealers are one of the more popular vacuum sealers used by commercial producers of food. This style of sealer uses a chamber where the products and bags are placed. Air is removed from the entire chamber, including the bag and food, which creates a vacuum. The bag is sealed and the air inside the chamber is returned back to normal. Because the bag is previously sealed, the air inside the bag remains in a vacuum-like state. You can see an example of this by going here. The demo is pretty fun to watch.

Potato chips and delicate food such as crackers can be damaged if all the air is removed from the vacuum-sealed bag. For this reason, the amount of air removed from the bag can be adjusted. Nitrogen air tanks can be attached to most chamber vacuum sealers, replacing the oxygen with another gas that has better preserving properties. Although some bacteria do not require oxygen to survive, most bacteria are wiped out when the oxygen is swapped out for nitrogen.

You can see ABC Office’s entire selection of vacuum sealers by going here.

ABC Office recently received the prestigious MBM dealer of the year award. MBM is a world-known manufacturer of Destroyit document shredders and makes advanced finishing equipment for the graphics and print industries. MBM has been manufacturing state-of-the-art paper handling equipment for over 60 years. We are excited to be a recipient of this award and are continually working to better ourselves and work harder to provide you with the equipment and products you need to keep your businesses running.

MBM Products are known for their quality and reliability. They are best known for their line of Destroyit paper shredders. Reliable, fast and easy to use, Destroyit shredders have set the world standard for over 45 years. Unlike shredders purchased at office super stores, Destroyit shredders are industrial grade, precision-engineered machines built to provide years of reliable and efficient operation. With data and identity theft on the rise, effectively disposing of your company’s confidential data is more important than ever. More powerful and reliable than machines from office super stores, the smallest Destroyit desk-side models are built with the same industrial-grade components as the largest high-volume shredders. MBM also manufactures a line of paper cutters under
the name of Ideal and Kutrimmer.

Manufactured in Germany, Triumph paper cutters and Kutrimmerpaper trimmers lead the world in performance and safety. Their line of guillotine trimmers can cut through hundreds of documents at once. The Kutrimmer line of paper trimmers can precisely cut paper down to any size needed.

MBM manufactures paper folders, collators and bookletmakers. All this equipment is designed to help companies save money by bringing outsourced projects back into the office. Businesses can save a lot of
money by doing their own shredding, paper cutting, folding and more. All the products manufactured by MBM are designed to streamline the office, be easy to use and operate at fast speeds.

We are excited to continue our partnership with MBM and strive to be the best source for all MBM products.

Since working for ABC Office, I have seen the demand for paper shredders grow significantly over the past several years. To help keep up with demand, we have increased our shredder line by adding the popular Fellowes brand paper shredders to our site. A total of 21 new shredders have been added. While all the shredders can handle paper, many of the new models can shred CDs, DVDs, credit cards and more. Come take a look at our new selection of Fellowes shredders by going here.

Document shredding is one of the most important ways you can protect your identity. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) states, “To thwart a thief who may pick through your trash or recycling bins to capture your personal information, tear or shred your charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, physician statements, checks and bank statements, expired credit or charge cards that you’re discarding, and credit offers you get in the mail.

Take a look at our useful fraud prevention ideas and paper shredder recommendations by going here:

Shredder Guide

Fraud Prevention Guide

HIPAA

FACTA

For information about a paper shredder that may work for you, call toll-free (1-800-658-8788) Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. MST. A knowledgeable customer service representative can then assist with answering questions regarding shredders.

Although it may not be the biggest topic of conversation, you may have wondered at one point in your life how holes get into reams of three-hole punched paper that you purchase at the store. Three-hole paper is one of the most widely used formats of paper used today. It is used in schools, homes, businesses and other organizations.

One of the most common misconceptions about paper drills is that the paper is not actually punched. It is drilled. Special hollow drill bits spin at high speeds and are pressed through the paper, cutting holes. The punched holes travel through the hollow drill bit where they are captured in a special tray. A one-inch stack of paper can be drilled through in less than five seconds. Some paper drills are capable of drilling through a 2 ½-inch stack of paper at once.

A common misconception is that normal wood drill presses can be used to drill paper. A normal drill bit, when applied to paper, tears it and creates unsightly burrs. Some people have actually tried to attach a hollow paper drill bit to a standard wood drill press. They are surprised when they discover it doesn’t work. The drilled paper holes that travel up the hollow bit get stuck in the bit. With no place for the drilled waste to go, the drill bit is no longer able to travel through the paper.

Some industrial wood drill presses can spin at much faster revolutions per minute (RPM) than a standard paper drill. This can be dangerous as the friction creates a lot of heat. Even with a normal paper drill, the hollow drill bits can be hot to the touch. Drill waxes and oils can be used to help reduce heat and extend drill bit life.

One-and three-spindle paper drills are commonly used, depending on the volume and job. Single-spindle paper drills often use a sliding base plate that can allow the machine to drill three holes.

I have worked with binding machines and office equipment for the last five years. I have worked with a variety of entry-level office equipment. As with just about anything, some models of binding machines are more durable and last longer than others. This is to be expected with entry-level office equipment vs. high-end office equipment.

A few months ago we brought in some of the newer Akiles binding machines from our warehouse to our showroom floor. We brought in about three different wire binding machines, two coil and one comb. I decided to shoot a few video demos to help give customers a better idea as to how they work. After a few
weeks of shooting videos and training people I discovered that these binding machines aren’t your usual run of the mill products.

The first thing I noticed is how heavy they are. They aren’t so heavy you can’t more them, but they are heavy
enough to let you know they are built well. Because they are made out of metal, they are very durable. For the cost, I would definitely go with an Akiles WireMac, CoilMac or MegaBind over any plastic comparable models. The punching was very clean and setting the machines up was even easier. The booklets I bound on all the machines looked very professional.

I would highly recommend viewing these products and checking out the broadband video demos available on several of the models. I am in the process of getting broadband demos available for the MegaBind comb binding machines. All these machines are made by Akiles. You can request a live video demo on all these models and receive one-on-one training from one of our sales associates. You can find these new binding machines by going here:

MegaBind (Comb Binding)

MegaBind 1E (Comb Binding)

WireMac (Wire Binding)

WireMac Duo (Wire Binding)

WireMac E (Wire Binding)

CoilMac ECI (Coil Binding)

CoilMac EPI (Coil Binding)

You’ve probably seen the signs in your local grocery store. They are usually bi-lingual and say something as
simple as “Caution Wet Floor” and in Spanish “Cuidado Piso Mojado.” The bright orange, green or yellow catches the eye and immediately draws attention. Once seen, people begin to tiptoe and take caution. The end result is fewer accidents and a drop in lawsuits.

It can’t be prevented, and happens sometimes on a weekly basis. A jar of food breaks, an entryway is wet
from rain or the custodian has recently mopped the floor. That three year old may not be as potty trained as his mother may have thought. A combination of a slippery substance with smooth floor, cement or tile could spell danger. Thanks to the law of gravity, what goes up must come down. A slippery floor often means
people may come down. The end result is often not pretty.

ABC Office is proud to announce their new collection of wet floor signs. Unlike traditional cones, the new wet floor tent cone saves a lot of space and makes for a better sign. It is taller, brighter and has more visible surface area. The sign is spring-loaded and fits nicely in a cylindrical container that can be stored in a closet or hung on a wall.

When an accident happens, the container can be used to eject the cone with the flick of a wrist. It weighs very little, but is very stable. Thanks to a tripod design, the sign will not easily fall over. It utilizes the amazing design and capabilities of the ancient Egyptian pyramids and takes advantage of the very gravity that can cause injuries.

Wet floors are difficult to see, especially indoors. Water in low-lit areas of stores and businesses can be almost invisible. When the sign is used, people will usually be careful to steer themselves around the dangerous area. When the slippery floor is brought to the attention of customers and employees, people are usually able to properly prepare themselves for the slippery conditions. Prevention will eliminate costly injuries and liability issues. You can see one of these tent-style wet floor signs by going here.

The Internet has made it possible for you to purchase products without leaving your office or home. Although this is very convenient, some people find it difficult to purchase equipment, sometimes valued at thousands of dollars, without seeing it first. We recognize this concern and have found a unique way around this obstacle. The answer is an online live video demo.

We understand that many of you need information and training before spending your hard-earned money. Because we have our own warehouse and stock much of what we sell, we are able to demonstrate much of our office equipment online. It is a way of brining you right into the showroom, without ever having
to leave your seat. You and our service representatives can interact with each other, giving and answering
questions. This one-on-one training helps eliminate most fears and gives you the information you need to make a purchase. This is all done via the Internet and a Web cam.

Setup for the online video demo is very easy and requires little effort. It does have a few requirements that must be met before the training can be initiated. You must first have a broadband Internet connection, preferably DSL or faster. To maintain the highest level of video resolution possible, audio communication is made via telephone. This means you must have an available telephone line for communication with the customer service rep. One of the best features of the live video demo is that it is completely free of cost.

Live video demos are non-committal. We promise not to pressure anyone into making a purchase decision. The purpose is purely for education. Most people that participate in the live video demo are able to take the equipment, set it up and use it right out of the box. You can choose from a wide variety of office equipment. See available products and sign up for a free live-video demo by going here.

Product demos being offered cover shrink wrap systems, foil stamping, paper folding, digital duplicators, roll laminators, binding machines and more.

We are proud to announce a new partnership with Wooden Mallet Inc. located in Aberdeen, South Dakota.
Wooden Mallet Inc. has been in business for 30 years and produces fine wood office products. Wooden mallet produces everything in-house with their own routing machines, laser engraving machines and state-of-the-art finishing system. This new partnership will increase our line of display racks by 62.

For the past 10 years, Wooden Mallet has ranked consistently in the top 100 of the Wood & Wood Products, Wood 100 Annual Report for Solid Wood and Panel Technology. The ranking is figured on the company’s percentage growth from the previous year. The annual sales volume of Wooden Mallet grew a massive 1300 percent from 1993 to 2002.

Wooden Mallet display racks are made from high-quality solid oak sides and components. This construction
provides a durable and solid product.  All components are pre-finished before assembly to ensure an even finish in all nooks and crannies, and a better protected product. The finished product does an excellent job of displaying magazines and brochures and looks professional in any environment.

The finishing system used by Wooden Mallet is one of the first of its kind in the Midwest. The system
uses ultra violet light to cure the finish; not only is the finish more durable, but the process meets the emission standards set by the Environment Protection Agency for many years to come. This means your display rack will be durable and will last through years of future wear and tear. Wooden Mallet display racks are a great investment.

We have hundreds of styles of display racks to choose from. Apart from Wooden Mallet display racks, we also have a wide selection of other wooden, plastic and metal display racks.

Display racks can be purchased as floor units, wall-mounted units, rotating units, corner units or as countertop units. You can see our entire selection of display racks by going here.

In order to better help you understand how our products work, we now offer broadband video demos. These new demos provide in-depth training, setup and operational instructions on several pieces of equipment. Anybody with a broadband connection, DSL or faster, will be able to view these now.

The new broadband video demos offer an on-the-fly option for viewing products in action. Most of the video demos are over 15 minutes in length and let you see exactly how to set the machine up, use it and troubleshoot it. Customers, after viewing the demos, are usually capable of using the machine out of the box, without having any prior experience. This saves both time and needless frustration. You can view all the new video demos by going here. These new broadband video demos are in addition to the existing live video demos.

For over a year ABC Office has given customers the chance to see office equipment live in action over the Internet. These live video demos are scheduled in advance and allow the customer to not only see the product in use, but also interact with a real salesperson. Most customers, after viewing a live video demo, are able to make a decision on whether or not the product will work for them.

Anybody can sign up for a live video demo. No purchase is necessary and sales are not pushed. They are purely for educational purposes. You can sign up for a live video demo by going here.