What are Xerox AltaLink Finishing Options & What Do They Do?

Imagine this: You’ve just printed a batch of reports for an important meeting. They look great, but now comes the tedious task of stapling and organizing each one. What if there was a way to streamline this process, ensuring a professional finish every time?

The answer to this problem is print finishing options. Also known as print finishers or paper output options, these accessories have long been beloved in various printing industries. One of the main ways you can tailor your machine to match your printing requirements is by adding a print finisher.  

At Strategic Technology Partners of Texas (STPT), with over 35 years of expertise in the North Texas area, we understand the nuances of printing solutions. As long-time partners of Xerox, we’ve seen firsthand how the right finishing options can transform your printing process.

But it’s important to understand exactly what finishing options are. In this blog, we’ll focus on print finishing options for the Xerox AltaLink Series printers, the newest models in the AltaLink family. By the end of the article, you will be better informed as to your options and able to decide if you should include them in your machine.

Learn more about AltaLink products with our in-depth Xerox AltaLink printer family guide.

What Exactly Is a Print Finisher?

Let’s start with the basics: Print finishing options, or finishers, are optional accessories you can add to your printer. They are the cherry on top in the printing process.

Unlike paper input options that feed paper into the printer, finishers take care of the final steps. They add professional touches like stapling, hole-punching, and booklet-making.

However, it's important to note that choosing the right finisher can impact not only your workflow but also the physical footprint of your printer setup.

Now, let's delve into the six optional finishing accessories available for the latest Xerox AltaLink C8200 and B8200 Series printers, along with their descriptions and pricing. 

Note: These options are also compatible with the C8100 and B8100 Series models.

For more information on what print finishers are, check out our blog on what print finishers are and whether you should include them to learn more.

6 Optional Finishing Accessories for the AltaLink Family

When you purchase an AltaLink printer, whether it be part of the C8200 or B8200 series, it will come with a standard integrated Dual Offset Catch Tray.

However, you can further upgrade your printer with optional finishers. Below are the ones available for the C8200/B8200 Series:

1. Office Finisher 

 

What It Does: This versatile and relatively compact finisher offers stacking and stapling capabilities.

Key Features:

• It can stack up to 2,000 sheets unstapled, 1,000 sheets single stapled, or 750 sheets dual stapled.
• It offers multiposition stapling with a 50-sheet maximum two-position stapling (letter size).
• In addition, a booklet maker for the Office Finisher is available with a top tray capacity of up to 40 booklets (2-15 sheets per booklet). It can saddle-stitch staple 2-15 sheets/8-60 page booklet and can score/crease 1-15 sheets unstapled.

Price: $1,150

Dimensions (WxDxH): 23.11” x 28.46” x 44.49”

The office finisher is supported on all models in the C8200/B8200 Series. You can also add an optional 2/3 hole punch support.

2. Integrated Office Finisher 

 

What It Does: Offers basic stacking and stapling, perfect for smaller workspaces and general office needs.

Key Features:

• Stacking of up to 500 sheets and up to 50 sheets with 2-position stapling (front and rear straight.)
• Very small and compact

Cost: $849

Dimensions (WxDxH): 7.83” x 28.46” x 44.49”

The integrated office finisher is available for all B8200/C8200 Series models except the C8270 & B8270

3. Business Ready (BR) Finisher 

 

What It Does: Offers basic stacking and stapling, perfect for general office needs. You must get a horizontal transport kit with this finisher.

Key Features:

• Stacking up to 3,000 sheets on the stacking stapling tray.
• Multi-position stapling capabilities
• On the offsetting top tray, you can stack an additional 500 sheets.

Estimated Cost: $1,650

Dimensions (WxDxH): 30.51” x 28.48” x 44.49”

You can add an optional C/Z folder that provides support for booklet folding.

4. BR Booklet Maker Finisher

 

What It Does: Adds booklet-making functionality for folded, stapled booklets. You must get a horizontal transport kit with this finisher.

Key Features: 

• Saddle-stitches and folds up to 16 sheets per booklet.
• Stacking up to 1,500 unstapled sheets on its stacking stapling tray, and 500 unstapled sheets on its offsetting top tray.
• Multiposition stapling capabilities

Estimated Cost: $3,300

Dimensions (WxDxH): 34.49” x 28.46” x 44.49”

Like the BR Finisher, you can also add an optional C/Z fold unit.

5. C-Fold/Z-Fold Unit 

 

What It Does: Also known as a tri-fold module because it offers three types of folds. It adds C-fold, Z-fold, and Z-half-fold abilities to the BR Finisher and BR Booklet Maker Finisher. These types of folds are commonly used for letter, mailing, and brochure purposes.

Key Features:

• Can do C-fold and Z-fold in letter and A4 sizes and Z-half-fold in tabloid and A3 sizes.
• Can fold up to 40 sheets
• Can pair with an envelope tray. 

Estimated Cost: $2,600

Dimensions (WxDxH): 5.35” x 28.46” x 44.49”

6. Convenience Stapler 

 

What It Does: This accessory sits at the side of your printer, allowing you to manually staple documents as needed.

Key Features: 

• Can staple up to 50 sheets at a time.
• Comes with an initial supply of 5,000 staples. 
• Includes a work surface.

Cost: $299

Dimensions (WxDxH): Not available

* Please note that this accessory requires a separate power outlet to operate.

With these finishing options, you can tailor your printer setup to meet your specific needs, whether it's basic stapling or intricate booklet-making.

Additional Options for Xerox AltaLink Printers

In addition to finishers, AltaLink printers offer a range of paper input options and additional accessories to enhance functionality and security:

Paper Input Options:

• Envelope Tray (compatible with B & C Series models)
• High Capacity Feeder (3,000 A4 sheets)
• Long-Sheet Feeder (for banner printing)
• Multi-Feed Detection Kit (available for AltaLink C8270/B8270 only)

Optional Accessories:

• RFID Card Reader Kit
• Dual-Band Wireless Kit (Wireless adapter)
• 500GB HDD Kit (Required for image overwrite functions)
• Xerox EX-c AltaLink Print Server Powered by Fiery (Only for Color series)
• Fax Kit

These options allow you to personalize your printer setup to meet your specific printing needs, such as working with special media or focusing on data security.

Consider Your Available Space

We’ve reviewed the print finishing options available for the AltaLink printers and mentioned additional accessories. But what else should you know before deciding if a print finisher is right for you?

In addition to cost, think about the space you have available. Adding finishers and accessories to an AltaLink printer makes it bigger, so you'll need more space to use it properly.

Here is an image of an AltaLink C8235 with added print finishers and accessories:

For more information on how important adequate space is for a printer, read our blog on printer size vs. space requirements.

Is a Print Finisher Worth the Investment?

Now, let's address the million-dollar question: Are print finishers worth it? The answer largely depends on your print requirements, such as monthly printing volume and workflow demands. If you find yourself grappling with time-consuming finishing tasks daily, investing in a finisher can be a game-changer.

By automating repetitive tasks like stapling and hole-punching, finishers can significantly boost productivity and free up valuable time for you or your employees to focus on more strategic work.

However, it's essential to conduct a thorough assessment of your print requirements before deciding. While finishers offer undeniable benefits, they also have additional space requirements and upfront costs.

Nevertheless, for businesses that print at high volumes or regularly produce booklets and presentations, investing in a finisher can save you time and money in the long run.

Where to Buy and How to Include Print Finishers?

Investing in finishing options for your Xerox AltaLink printer can streamline workflows, optimize productivity, and enhance document presentation for your business.

If you're interested in adding a print finisher to your Xerox AltaLink printer, you have several options at your disposal. You can directly purchase from Xerox or leverage the expertise of Strategic Technology Partners of Texas (STPT).

Don’t hesitate to contact us with further questions about print finishers. As seasoned Xerox partners with decades of experience, we can assess your specific model and printing needs to recommend the ideal finishing option for your setup.

Additionally, our product configurator tool offers a user-friendly interface where you can explore different finishing options and visualize how they'll integrate with your printer.

Ready to unlock the full potential of your Xerox AltaLink printer? Click below to access our product configurator and embark on a journey towards enhanced productivity.