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 Bantam and Shooter 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. Three 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 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 about $3,450 you do not need to spend.
Will the Bantam-1 fit the job? The Bantam-1 has a 15 by 18 inch table and counts to 2,000 sheets per minute with a 6 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. For larger sheets, contact us before you buy.
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.
The Bantam-1 and Shooter IID run on 110V. A 220V service option is available for the Bantam-1. 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 sheet counter and the Shooter IID in-line press counter. The Bantam-1 counts off-line and comes with or without the tabbing option. The Shooter IID counts at the press.
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.
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 Bantam-1. The tabbing version costs $3,450 more.
How fast do these counters run?
The Bantam-1 counts up to 2,000 sheets per minute. The Shooter IID tabs at 3 tabs per second while the press runs.
What sheet size can the Bantam-1 handle?
The Bantam-1 table is 15 by 18 inches.
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, so contact us for a quote and an install date. Ask about financing and leasing if you want the price framed as a monthly number.