The two are often assumed to be the same because both ""make holes"" in paper, but a paper drilling machine and a perforating machine serve entirely different purposes. Picking the wrong one means the finished product won't match what the customer actually needs.
Paper drilling machine: round holes for binding
A paper drilling machine like the 50L bores round holes through a stack of paper, typically for ring binding, spiral binding or binders. The 50L handles drilling stacks up to 50 mm on paper up to 460 × 290 mm, with a 5–45 mm hole margin and 3–10 mm drill bits — used for calendars, planners, and documents that need to be joined with a ring or spiral.
Perforating machine: a tear-line, not a round hole
A perforating machine like the 470 A makes a tear-line — a row of small, broken cuts — not a round hole. It's used for receipts, tickets, coupons and forms that have a section the customer or operator needs to tear off. The 470 A handles a 460 mm working width for paper from 60 to 800 gsm.
A quick way to tell which you need
- If the paper will be JOINED with a ring, spiral or binder — you need a paper drilling machine.
- If part of the paper will be TORN OFF by the customer or operator — you need a perforating machine.
Some print shops serving both kinds of work end up owning both, since the two functions don't substitute for each other.
Quick comparison
| 50L (Drilling) | 470 A (Perforating) | |
|---|---|---|
| Result | Round hole | Tear-line |
| Common use | Ring binding, calendars, planners | Receipts, tickets, forms |
| Capacity/width | 50 mm drilling, 460 × 290 mm paper | 460 mm working width |
| Paper range | — | 60–800 gsm |
Frequently asked questions
Can one machine do both jobs?
No. The mechanisms are different — boring a round hole versus cutting a broken line — so Lexia offers them as two separate machines, the 50L and the 470 A.
Which do I need for a wall calendar with ring binding?
A paper drilling machine like the 50L, since a ring-bound calendar needs precise round holes along the paper's edge.
Which do I need for receipts with a tear-off section?
A perforating machine like the 470 A, since a receipt's tear-off section needs a broken line, not a round hole.
See details on the 50L and 470 A, or contact Lexia Machinery in Medan for help choosing the right machine.
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