Formax ReadyWire3E — Electric 3:1 Wire Punch & Manual Bind System

Formax's 3:1 wire binder for volume: foot-pedal punch, 250 books an hour, thin books only.

Formax ReadyWire3E

The Formax ReadyWire3E is an all-in-one 3:1 pitch double-loop wire binding machine with an electric foot-pedal punch and a manual closer. It punches 20 sheets per pass, binds books up to 135 sheets on 3:1 wire from 1/4" to 5/8", takes paper up to 14" wide, and is rated at up to 250 booklets an hour.

Formax positions it for 150 to 250 books a day in its Premium Office line.

Electric punch, manual close. The motor does the punching; you still pull a lever to close the wire.

What are the Formax ReadyWire3E specs?

The ReadyWire3E punches up to 20 sheets per pass by foot pedal, closes 3:1 wire books up to 135 sheets, and handles paper up to 14" wide. Formax rates it at up to 250 booklets an hour. It measures 18" wide by 17" deep by 11" tall with the handle.

• Pitch — 3:1, 3 holes per inch
• Punch — electric, foot pedal, gravity-assisted vertical punching
• Punch capacity — up to 20 sheets per pass
• Max book — up to 135 sheets
• Wire — 3:1 double-loop, 1/4" to 5/8"
• Max paper width — 14"
• Rated output — up to 250 booklets per hour
• Formax best fit — 150–250 books per day
• Size — 18" W × 17" D × 11" H with handle

When does a 3:1 electric binder make sense?

A 3:1 electric binder makes sense when you bind a lot of documents and every one of them is under 135 sheets. Board meeting packets, compliance documents and reports are the work Formax names. If you can't promise every book stays under 135 sheets, buy the 2:1 ReadyWire2E instead; it's the same machine with 1½" wire and 340-sheet books.

Even Formax's own ReadyWire3E graphic says "Not sure where to start? 2:1 offers the most binding flexibility!" Thin-book shops are the exception that note leaves room for.

Is the ReadyWire3E faster than the ReadyWire3M?

Yes, according to the ReadyWire3E's own Formax spec graphic: up to 250 booklets an hour against 200 for the manual ReadyWire3M. The foot pedal frees both hands for the stack. Paper width, 20-sheet punch, 135-sheet books and 5/8" wire are the same on both.

One caution. Formax's graphics don't agree with each other on this. The ReadyWire3M's comparison card lists the 3E at 200 an hour, and our ReadyWire3M post used that figure. I've asked our rep which is right and will correct whichever post is wrong.

The 3E is also 7" shorter (11" vs 18" with handle) and 4" deeper (17" vs 13").

What does the ReadyWire3E's punching system do?

The ReadyWire3E uses Formax's vertical, drop-in punch: stand the stack on edge, gravity aligns it, the pedal punches. Pins pull out by hand so a non-standard sheet doesn't end up with half-holes at the edge — "without tools or greasy set up," per Formax.

• Punch edge and parallel punch edge adjustment
• Paper width guide
• Integrated bind size scale for reading wire size off the stack
• Integrated wire holding station and adjustable closure control

Formax ships ReadyWire in patented packaging that keeps it from tangling, and says the wire is 10% thicker than industry standard. I quote wire with the machine.

How does the ReadyWire3E compare to the ReadyWire3M and ReadyWire2E?

The ReadyWire3E is the electric version of the ReadyWire3M and the 3:1 version of the ReadyWire2E. All three are Premium Office models with 14" paper width.

• Over 150 thin books a day, 3:1 look preferred? → ReadyWire3E
• 3:1, under ~150 a day, no outlet needed? → ReadyWire3M
• High volume and any book might pass 135 sheets? → ReadyWire2E

Who should buy the ReadyWire3E — and who shouldn't

Buy it for a district office or print center that binds a steady stream of thin reports, compliance documents and board packets, and wants the 3:1 finish. Formax lists legal firms, educational institutions, government agencies, healthcare and corporate print shops.

Skip it for a classroom; the Basic ReadyWire3B is sized for that. And skip it if your work mixes thin and thick books. A shop with one binder should own a 2:1.

Every Formax model is compared in our guide to Formax binding machines for schools, or browse Formax equipment in our store.

Questions we get from districts

Is the Formax ReadyWire3E electric or manual?

Both. The ReadyWire3E punches with an electric foot pedal and closes the wire with a manual lever. Formax calls it an "All-in-One Electric Wire Punch & Manual Bind System." If you want no motor at all, the ReadyWire3M is the all-manual 3:1 model.

How thick a book can the ReadyWire3E bind?

135 sheets, using 3:1 wire up to 5/8" diameter. It punches 20 sheets per pass, so a full book is seven punches. For thicker books at the same volume, Formax's ReadyWire2E binds up to 340 sheets on 2:1 wire up to 1½".

How fast is the ReadyWire3E?

Up to 250 booklets an hour, per the ReadyWire3E's own Formax spec graphic, with a recommended volume of 150 to 250 books a day. One Formax comparison card lists 200 an hour, so I'm confirming the number with our rep.

Should I buy the ReadyWire3E or the ReadyWire2E?

Short answer — the 2E, unless every book you bind is under 135 sheets. Both are electric-punch Premium models rated at 250 an hour with 14" paper width. The 2E's 2:1 wire goes to 1½" and 340 sheets; the 3E's 3:1 wire stops at 5/8".

What power does the ReadyWire3E need?

A standard wall outlet for the electric punch, but I don't have the exact voltage and amperage from Formax yet. I'm getting the electrical spec from our rep for anyone who needs it on a facilities or purchasing form. The close is manual, so only the punch draws power.

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