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Akiles CoilMac Spiral Coil Binding Machine Comparison

Spiral Coil Binding Machine Comparison

Spiral coil binding is one of the most durable document binding methods available.
The Akiles CoilMac series includes manual and electric spiral coil binding machines designed for offices, schools, and professional print environments.

These machines use 4:1 pitch spiral coils, allowing documents to open flat and rotate 360 degrees, making them ideal for manuals, reports, notebooks, and presentations.

How to Choose The Best Coil Binding Machine

Choosing Between Manual & Electric Inserters

When selecting a CoilMac machine, the biggest factor in your productivity is the inserter—the mechanism that spins the coil through the holes.

  • Manual Inserters (e.g., CoilMac-M): These machines are essentially “punch only.” Once the holes are made, you must manually twist the plastic coil into the first few holes and then spin it through the rest by hand. This is cost-effective but best suited for low-volume projects or occasional use.

  • Electric Inserters (e.g., CoilMac-ER or CoilMac-ECI): These models feature a built-in motorized roller. Once you’ve punched your document, you simply hold the coil against the spinning roller, and it threads the coil through the entire book in seconds. This significantly reduces hand fatigue and is essential for anyone binding more than a few books at a time.

Akiles CoilMac Comparison: Manual vs. Electric Coil Binding Machines

The Akiles CoilMac series, typically use a 4:1 pitch (4 holes per inch) in round and Oval, which is the industry standard for spiral binding.

💡 Pro-Tip : The “Plus” Advantage

If you see a “Plus” in the name, like the CoilMac-EPI Plus, it means the machine features Oval Holes. These holes make electric inserting even faster because there is less friction, allowing the coil to glide through the document with ease.

Oval Holes vs. Round Holes: What’s the Difference?

In the Akiles lineup, the standard models use round holes, while the “Plus” versions feature oval holes. While both work with standard 4:1 pitch coils, the oval shape provides several technical advantages that improve efficiency.

Key Comparison

  • Hole Shape: Round holes are typically 4mm in diameter. Oval holes are slightly larger, usually 4mm x 5mm.

  • Insertion Speed: Oval holes can increase coil insertion speed by up to 50%. This is because the elongated shape reduces friction as the coil “finds” the next hole.

  • Document Thickness: Oval holes are highly recommended for thicker books (over 1 inch). They allow the pages to turn more freely around the larger diameter coils.

  • Margin Spacing: Most Akiles Plus models use a 0.248″ pitch for oval holes. This is specifically designed to fit 44 holes perfectly on an 11-inch sheet, ensuring even margins at the top and bottom.

Recommendation

If your budget allows for the small price difference, the “Plus” version with oval holes is almost always the better investment. It saves significant time during the assembly process and produces a more professional-looking finish with perfectly centered holes.

For high-volume environments, consider the Akiles CoilMac-EX Pro, which combines these oval holes with a fully electric punch and inserter for maximum productivity.

What Is Spiral Coil Binding?

Spiral coil binding, also known as color coil, spiral binding, or plastic coil binding, is one of the most popular and durable document finishing methods available. This process involves threading a continuous, spring-like plastic coil through a series of closely spaced holes punched along the edge of a document. Because the coils are made of high-quality, flexible PVC, they can withstand heavy use without bending or breaking, making them a top choice for schools and busy offices. One of the greatest advantages of this style is that it allows pages to open flat and rotate 360 degrees (back-to-back), which is perfect for reference manuals, notebooks, and professional presentations that need to be easy to handle

What Is a Spiral Coil Binding Machine?

A spiral coil binding machine is used to punch holes along the edge of a document and insert a plastic spiral coil through the pages to secure them together.

This type of binding allows documents to open completely flat and rotate 360 degrees, making it ideal for manuals, notebooks, presentations, and training materials.

Spiral coil binding machines typically use a 4:1 pitch punching pattern, meaning four holes per inch along the binding edge. After the document is punched, a plastic spiral coil is inserted and then crimped on both ends to secure the pages.

The Akiles CoilMac series includes manual and electric spiral coil binding machines designed for offices, schools, and professional print environments.

How to Use an Akiles CoilMac Binding Machine

Binding a document with a spiral coil machine is a simple three-step process: Punch, Insert, and Crimp.

1. Punching the Document

  • Adjust Your Margins: Use the Side Margin Control to center your paper and the Depth Margin Control to set how far the holes are from the edge. (Pro Tip: For thicker books, use a deeper margin).

  • Disengage Pins: If you are using a non-standard paper size, pull out the Disengageable Pins to avoid a “half-hole” at the very edge of your sheet.

  • Punch in Sets: Insert your paper (usually up to 15-20 sheets at a time depending on your model) and pull the handle or press the foot pedal to punch.

2. Inserting the Coil

  • Start by Hand: Manually twist the spiral plastic coil into the first 4 or 5 holes of your document.

  • Use the Inserter: If you have an electric model like the CoilMac-ER, turn on the roller and hold the edge of the coil against it. The machine will spin the coil through the remaining holes in seconds.

3. Crimping the Ends (The Most Important Step!)

  • Position the Pliers: Use a pair of Coil Crimping Pliers. Hold them so the red dot is facing up towards the ceiling.

  • Cut and Fold: Place the pliers at the right end of the coil and squeeze. This will cut the excess plastic and fold the tip over to lock the pages in place.

  • Flip and Repeat: Flip the book over and repeat on the other side.

Best for?

Akiles CoilMac-M (Manual)

Akiles CoilMac-M (Manual)

  • Best For: Small offices, schools, or low-volume users (under 5 books/week) on a strict budget.

  • The Vibe: “The reliable workhorse.” It’s all-metal and heavy-duty, perfect for those who don’t mind a little “elbow grease” to save on cost.

💡 Pro Tip: If you ever find manual threading too slow, you can always pair this later with a standalone Spiral Plastic Coil Inserter. For small jobs, manual crimping pliers are perfect. However, if you are binding more than 50 books a day, consider an electric finisher like the Crimp-@-Coil, which replaces the hand-cramping motion of pliers with a foot-pedal-activated dual crimper.

Akiles CoilMac-ECI (Manual Punch + Electric Inserter)

  • Best For: Mid-sized offices that want to speed up production without the higher price of an electric punch.

  • The Vibe: “The hybrid favorite.” It combines the control of a manual punch with the high-speed finishing of an electric roller.

💡 Pro Tip: This is our #1 best-selling setup for general business reports. It offers the best balance of price and speed.

Akiles CoilMac-ER (Electric Punch + Electric Inserter)

  • Best For: Busy office environments and administrative professionals who bind frequently.

  • The Vibe: “Effortless efficiency.” Both the punching and the inserting are motorized, meaning zero arm fatigue for the operator.

💡 Pro Tip: Because it’s fully electric, this model is much more accessible for users with wrist or joint sensitivity compared to manual handle models. Consider an electric finisher like the Crimp-@-Coil, which replaces the hand-cramping motion of pliers with a foot-pedal-activated dual crimper.

Akiles CoilMac-EX / EX Pro (Heavy Duty Electric)

  • Best For: Professional offices, copy centers, and busy mailrooms that need a faster daily workflow.
  • The Vibe: “The production workhorse.” This model features a heavy-duty motor and the “Pro” version includes the high-speed Oval Hole pattern.

 

💡 Pro Tip: We always recommend the CoilMac-EX Pro over the standard EX. The time saved by the oval holes during the inserting process pays for the price difference within the first few large projects. The EX Pro version will  bind books over 1 inch thick. The oval holes make the coil glide in 50% faster.

Akiles CoilMac-EPI / EPI Plus (Industrial/Production)

  • Best For: Commercial print shops and large corporations with dedicated binding stations.
  • The Vibe: “The industrial standard.” Built with an extra-duty motor and floor-pedal operation, this machine is designed to run 8 hours a day without overheating.

💡 Pro Tip: The CoilMac-EPI Plus is unique because its 0.248″ pitch is mathematically perfect for 11-inch sheets. It ensures you never get a “half-hole” at the edge of your paper, giving you a custom-manufactured look every time.

FAQ :Frequently Asked Questions?

What is the difference between the CoilMac-ECI and the CoilMac-ER?

The primary difference is the punching mechanism. The CoilMac-ECI features a manual punch (you pull a handle) but includes an electric inserter to spin the coils. The CoilMac-ER is a fully electric system, meaning both the punching and the inserting are motorized. If you bind large volumes, the CoilMac-ER significantly reduces physical fatigue.

💡 Pro Tip: If your staff binds documents for more than an hour at a time, go with the CoilMac-ER. Manual punching 20+ books can cause significant arm fatigue; electric punching keeps productivity high from the first book to the last.

Standard models punch round holes, but ‘Plus‘ models like the CoilMac-EPI Plus punch oval holes. Oval holes are highly recommended because they reduce friction during the binding process. This allows the plastic coil to glide through the document up to 50% faster, which is a major advantage when binding thicker books over 1 inch.

💡 Pro Tip: We always recommend the “Plus” version for books thicker than 1 inch. The oval shape allows the plastic coil to glide through the document up to 50% faster, preventing the coil from getting “snagged” on the paper as it spins.

No, the CoilMac-M is a fully manual ‘Entry-Level’ machine. While it provides a high-quality 4:1 pitch punch, you must manually twist the coils into the document by hand, and cut ends with a hand crimping plier. This model is perfect for small offices or low-volume projects where speed is less critical than budget. The Coilmac M price is $425.00

💡 Pro Tip: The the Coilmac-M and CoilMac-M PLUS is the perfect “backup” machine. It’s also ideal for schools or small offices that bind less than 5 books a week and want a heavy-duty, all-metal machine without the higher price tag of motorized components.

For heavy-duty, high-volume production, we recommend the CoilMac-EPI Plus or the CoilMac-EX Pro. These machines are built with industrial-grade components and feature extra-duty motors designed to run all day. They also include the ‘Plus’ oval hole pattern to ensure your assembly line stays moving as fast as possible.

💡 Pro Tip: In a production environment, time is money. Pair these machines with a standalone Electric Coil Inserter to create a two-person assembly line: one person punches, while the other finishes.

Every CoilMac-EPI Plus and Coilmac ER comes with a set of premium Cutter-Crimper Pliers included in the box, so you have everything you need to start binding immediately. 

You may also want to compare our DuoMac COMBO binding machines or WireMac twin loop wire binding machines depending on your binding needs.

At Delran, bookbinding is more than a service—it is a craft we have perfected for over 35 years. As a premier B2B document finishing provider, we have established a national seal of excellence, serving major printers and publishers from coast to coast. For over 3 decades we, used,  sold, serviced, and been authorized delelers a full range of equipment, specializing in Spiral Plastic Coil, Plastic Comb, and Double-Loop Wire binding machines.

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