Swingline SmartTouch™
Low-force Staplers
The SmartTouch™ line of manual staplers combines well researched and tested usability with a patented low-force mechanism married onto a monocoque chassis to create a new iconic version of a manual stapler for Swingline. The resulting reduced effort design lowers the force required of a typical manual stapler by 30%. The user benefit is substantial, especially when stapling larger stacks of paper, up to 25 sheets.
RED DOT Award 2012
BENELUX INTERNATIONAL OFFICE Award 2012


The key objective of this project’s design brief initially began with the main goal being to lower the production costs relative to the current line of staplers within the Swingline portfolio of stapling products. Competitive market forces were driving prices

The patented low-force system development was the implementation of a multi-axle pivot mechanism conceptualized by the PlusD2 team early in the development process. The team was then able to pursue this forward-thinking concept and implement multiple axels within the compact system to reduce the overall force required to activate the staple hammer by 30%; working concurrently with the ACCO internal engineering team and their overseas suppliers to generate the final documentation for production. The success of the low-force system and new visual ergonomic aesthetic afforded the project recognition within the category, both through success in the marketplace and international design awards.
