x 20.88"

To start 2010 on a great note, Fellowes has put
out a new line of thermal binding machines: the Helios series. The star
of this new group is the Helios 60, a truly remarkable device that's
easy to use and offers a lot of wonderful features. Lets take an
in-depth look at this product's strengths (and weaknesses).

Strengths:

• The Helios 60 has a super fast warm-up time of just 4
  minutes. It is able to bind a book in 30-second intervals, depending on
  the thickness of the document. The thickest document will take about 3
  minutes to be fully processed.
• The maximum length
  of a book bound with this device is 600 pages. The Helios 60 can bind a
  single document of this length in a single cycle. It can also bind
  several smaller documents at the same time.
• This
  is a rather sleek and thin device with dimensions of 3.94" (height) x
  20.88" (width) x 9.44" (depth). The top part also folds down so the
  machine is easy to store.
• Since determining which
  supplies you should use can be challenging, Fellowes has put a binding
  element selector on the front of the machine. There is also a chart
  that tells you how long your document will need to sit in the machine
  to be fully bound.
• Each unit has a thickness
  detector that will automatically select the machine's binding settings
  for your document depending on its length.
• If you
  haven't used it in a while, the device will shut itself off. This will
  help keep your energy costs under control, as well as prevent the
  machine from overheating.
• Since thermal binding
  can lead to burns, Fellowes equipped the Helios 60 with a HeatGuard to
  help keep hands and fingers away from the heating element. There is
  also a pull-out cooling rack for your finished documents.
• All
  of the controls you need to operate the machine are right up front,
  including an LED control panel. The machine will also flash lights and
  make noise to let you know when it's warmed up and when the binding
  cycle is complete.
• This machine comes with a 2-year warranty for added protection.

Weaknesses:

• Due to the design of the machine, it will not be possible
  to bind documents that are longer than the 11-inch side of a piece of
  letter-sized paper.
• You can only use thermal binding covers when putting your books together.
• Some
  of the Helios 60's components are made out of plastic, so this machine
  might break down at some point and either need to be repaired or
  replaced.
• If you need to bind a lot of booklets
  containing 600 pages, it will take you a while because you can only
  bind one document of this thickness at a time.

Overall, the Fellowes Helios 60 is a revolutionary thermal binding
machine that's safe and easy to use. Although it does have a couple of
limitations, they pale in comparison to the wonderful features this
product has to offer. If you need a thermal binder, check out the
Helios 60.