High-speed paper counting machines for commercial printing and finishing - exact sheet counts, batch counting, and tab insertion for quantity control and print verification. Mid-State Litho carries U.S. Paper Counters Count-Wise and Bantam systems, backed by factory-trained service across Michigan and the Great Lakes.
How to choose a paper counter
Every counter on this page does the same core job: it counts sheets faster and more accurately than a person, and it stops on a batch number. Four things decide which one belongs on your floor.
Does the counter need to tab the batches? A tabbing model drops a paper tab into the stack at each batch break, so the next operation can find the split without recounting. Mid-State Litho stocks both configurations of the Countwise-1 and the Bantam-1: the Countwise-1 tabbing at $25,445 and non-tabbing at $22,000, the Bantam-1 tabbing at $23,900 and non-tabbing at $20,450. If the counted lifts go straight to a guillotine cutter or a folder that needs the break marked, buy the tabbing model. If the count is for inventory or billing, it is $1,900 to $3,445 you do not need to spend.
How big is the sheet? The Bantam-1 table is 15 by 18 inches. The Countwise-1 table is 28 by 28. The Countwise-M carries a 32 by 32 air-flotation table, 36 by 36 actual, which is the one to buy when the counter has to handle full press sheets and when an operator would otherwise be fighting the lift.
How fast does it need to run? The Bantam-1 counts to 2,000 sheets per minute with a 6 inch throat. The Countwise-1 counts to 2,500 with an 8 inch throat. Throat depth usually matters more than the top speed number, because it sets how much of a lift you can load at once.
Is the count happening at the press? The Shooter IID is an in-line press counter and tabber at $6,250, with a touch screen, base stand, 16 inch tape chute, variable tab length, and 3 tabs per second. It is a different machine class from the off-line counters above. It counts and tabs while the press runs, so the count is finished when the run is.
All five are 110V. The Countwise-M is available in 220V. All are drop shipped, and freight is quoted per job. Square the lift first: a paper jogger is the machine that squares a stack before it is counted, and the two steps usually sit side by side in the same cell.
U.S. Paper Counters
U.S. Paper Counters builds the counting equipment Mid-State Litho sells: the Bantam-1, the Countwise-1, the Countwise-M, and the Shooter IID in-line press counter. The line is narrow on purpose. Each model is the same counting head sitting on a different table, at a different speed, with or without the tabbing option, so the choice is about sheet size and workflow rather than about brand.
Bantam-1 sheet counter. 15 by 18 inch table, touch screen, up to 2,000 sheets per minute, batch range 5 to 999, 6 inch throat, 110V. $20,450 non-tabbing, $23,900 with tabbing.
Countwise-1 sheet counter. 28 by 28 inch table, touch screen, up to 2,500 sheets per minute, batch range 3 to 9,999, 8 inch throat, single jogging plate, 110V. $22,000 non-tabbing, $25,445 with tabbing.
Countwise-M sheet counter. Countwise-1 counting specifications on a standard 32 by 32 air-flotation table, 36 by 36 actual, 110V with 220V available. $29,100.
Shooter IID in-line press counter and tabber. Touch screen, base stand standard, 16 inch tape chute, variable tab length, 3 tabs per second, 110V. $6,250.
Counting sits inside a larger finishing sequence. See bindery finishing for the parent lane, and collating, paper drills, and paper punching for the operations that usually run before or after a count.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a tabbing and a non-tabbing paper counter?
A tabbing counter inserts a paper tab into the stack at each batch break so the next operation can find the split without recounting. Mid-State Litho sells both configurations of the Countwise-1 and the Bantam-1. The tabbing version costs $1,900 to $3,445 more depending on the model.
How fast do these counters run?
The Bantam-1 counts up to 2,000 sheets per minute. The Countwise-1 and the Countwise-M count up to 2,500. The Shooter IID tabs at 3 tabs per second while the press runs.
What sheet size can each counter handle?
The Bantam-1 table is 15 by 18 inches, the Countwise-1 is 28 by 28, and the Countwise-M carries a 32 by 32 air-flotation table that measures 36 by 36 actual. Buy the Countwise-M when full press sheets have to be counted.
Do you sell a counter that runs in line with the press?
Yes. The Shooter IID is an in-line press counter and tabber at $6,250, with a touch screen, base stand, and a 16 inch tape chute.
Who installs and services these in Michigan?
Mid-State Litho has sold and serviced print finishing equipment since 1984, with factory trained technicians covering Michigan and the Great Lakes region. These counters drop ship from the manufacturer and freight is quoted per job. Every machine on this page ships freight and none carries a cart price, so contact us for a quote and an install date. Ask about financing and leasing if you want the $29,100 Countwise-M framed as a monthly number.