Guillotines & Trimmers

FAQs

What is the difference between guillotines and trimmers for office use?

Guillotines and paper trimmers serve similar purposes, but there are differences in how they function and achieve that purpose. Guillotines are ideal for high-volume cutting jobs while paper trimmers are better suited to lower-volume jobs or more precise trims and cuts.

Guillotines use a heavy-duty blade that slices downward in a single motion. Thanks to this heavy-duty blade, guillotines can often cut through anywhere between 10 to 50 (or more) sheets in one pass. They’re the ideal choice when you need to handle bulk cutting jobs and don’t require as much granular precision. They’re a good option for offices, print shops, and school printrooms.

Paper trimmers make use of a rotary blade that slides along a straight guide rail. Given that the blade is much smaller than a guillotine blade, paper trimmers are better suited to smaller batches of cutting or precision trims, which can be particularly helpful with trimming photos or handling art projects. They’ll usually be able to cut somewhere between one to 30 sheets of paper in a single pass. They’re a good option for low-volume use in an office or in schools for arts, crafts, and general classroom needs.

Can guillotines and paper trimmers handle both A3 and A4 paper sizes?

While the guillotines and paper trimmers available at Global Office Choice may note a specific paper size they’re designed for (e.g. A3 or A4), you’ll often find that many cover a range of sizes up to the maximum they’re designed for. 

For example, with an A3 paper trimmer, it could also be used to trim and cut papers to sizes that include A4, A5, A6, A7, Letter, Legal, B5, B6, etc. So, when considering a product, take a closer look to see if they include adjustable back margins and measurements for varying document sizes.

Which guillotines are best for high-volume cutting in Mornington Peninsula businesses?

When it comes to high-volume cutting, the main feature you’ll want to look out for is simply how many sheets of paper can be cut/passed in one go. Some guillotines are only designed to cut through 10 standard sheets (this is the 80GSM of standard printing paper) in one pass while others can pass through up to 40 sheets in one go. So, if you have a lot of sheets to cut through, you should opt for any guillotine that’s graded for 40 sheets or more in one pass.

Another important consideration is the size of the sheets you want to cut. Some guillotines may be designed primarily for A4 sheets or A3 sheets, for example. However, you’ll typically find that a guillotine built for A3 sheets will also be usable for A4-sized sheets or smaller thanks to the inclusion of adjustable back margins, paper clamps, and printed measurements on the guillotine base for other document sizes.

What safety features do the guillotines and trimmers stocked at Global Office Choice include?

We’ve listed some of the common safety mechanisms that tend to feature in many guillotines and paper trimmers, including those we have at Global Office Choice. That said, we recommend that you read up on the safety features of the specific product you’re interested in to ensure it includes the features that are most important to workplaces of all kinds.

• Blade guards/blade covers: Most guillotines and paper trimmers keep the blade covered with a devoted guard or casing that ensures users won’t accidentally come into contact with the blade itself.

• Safety lock: Most guillotines and paper include a safety lock for the blade that keeps it secured in place when not in use. Certain guillotines also include the ability to be folded up for safe storage.

• Finger guards: Finger guards are also a typical feature that keeps fingers away from the cutting edge during active use.

• Enclosed rotary blade: For paper trimmers, the rotary blade is often enclosed in a cartridge or casing so that it can be moved and used for trimming safely.

• Non-slip base: Both guillotines and paper trimmers feature rubber feet or grips that ensure the base won’t slip, preventing any operational injury.