Have you ever heard of a lamination machine? It’s basically a device that uses pressure and heat to add a plastic layer to a piece of paper. Its main goal is to protect the paper from getting damaged. This machine is widely used with papers, certificates, report covers, menus, signs and posters, photographs and much more.
Contents
Types of Laminators
Film
Film laminators use 2 individual layers of film to get the job done. The one at the bottom is covered with the documents that need to be laminated and the other is placed on top. Both layers have to be perfectly aligned so the process can be successful. There are hot rollers that go over the fil and paper and press down to stick them together with the paper in-between. This practical and efficient laminator for paper is very flexible and is mainly used in large-scale production.
Pouch
Pouch laminators are the most common ones used in a desktop setting. They’re the ones people think about when they hear the word laminator. There are clear plastic pouches that are lined with adhesive. You need to manually insert them into the device to get a seal. Once again, there are hot rollers that press the pouches together.
Cold
Just as the word suggests, these laminators are not heated. They’re mainly used on papers and documents that might get damaged if placed under or close to a heat source. The laminator itself is cheaper than the previous two versions, however, the pouches that it uses for the cold press are much more expensive.
A3
A3 laminators are a fantastic choice if you need to preserve and improve large print items for display, such as posters or signs. They can be either single or double-sided. They’re also very flexible when it comes to size, working temperature and the piece’s orientation. They’re most commonly used for documents that need to be publicly displayed like public signage, window dressings or exhibition graphics.
A4
A4 laminators are very common. They’re used in offices, schools and in retail. They’re used for photo montages, multiple ID cards and business cards, report covers, menus, instruction guides, and other documents that need to be reusable. The A4 laminator keeps them in presentable shape even after many usages.
The majority of A4 desktop laminators are pouch-style, using heated rollers to seal the papers in customised sticky plastic wallets. More sophisticated, modern devices have several pairs of rollers to give you a clean finish and a tight seal. The older, more basic models have just one pair of rollers. This increases the chances of misalignment and bubbling.
What to Consider when Buying
Size
When you’re buying your first laminator, size is the most important thing to consider. Not all of them can cover the same paper format. This mainly depends on your needs and the papers you laminate all the time. Sizes can vary so if you’re not sure which one to get or the size chart is confusing you, ask the seller and they’ll give you the best size advice.
Thickness
The unit of measurement used for the thickness of the laminating pouches is millimetres. These pouches can range from 3 to 10mm in thickness and can cover all paper sizes. There’s an unwritten rule that if the paper will be handled very often, like a menu at a restaurant, the pouches should be thicker and vice versa.
Number of Users
When you want to buy a laminator for paper you also need to consider the number of people that will be using it. Will it be just you? Is the whole office going to use it? If it will be used just by you, you should invest in a pouch machine. But if more than one person is using it, getting a roll laminator would be the best choice.
Cost & Ease of Use
All laminators have the same basic working principle. In general, they’re easy to use and don’t have plenty of buttons or complex mechanisms you should deal with. Of course, some are simpler than others. If you’re using one for the first time, ask the seller for a recommendation, and look for something basic. When it comes to price, they can vary a lot. Browse around, set a budget and look for laminators in that budget frame.
Laminate Finishes
The laminate’s finish is what gives the final touch to the final product. There are several types of finishes you can choose from. Glossy is very common and gives a smooth, shiny and clear surface. It looks very professional and great when you want to use dry-erase markers. Matte has no glare or shine and works perfectly for documents you need to read under different light conditions.
Satin, soft touch and silk finishes are considered premium. They give a luxurious look and are great for upscale packaging like makeup products for example. Luster laminate is something between matte and glossy. It doesn’t have much glare but still has a subtle shine. It’s lightly textured and good for posters and photos.
Dry-erase and anti-graffiti laminate are both made to create writable surfaces. They’re mainly used for activity sheets, chore charts or to protect posters from vandalism. There are also textured, embossed and anti-slip laminates that are made for heavy-duty applications. They can withstand scratches and scuffs ab stand up to a lot of wear and tear.
Benefits of Using Laminators
Laminators bring a lot of benefits to the table. Their main goal is to increase the durability of some prints and make sure they can stand the test of time. They’re also there to protect important and sensitive documents from stains, spills, fingerprints, wrinkles, abrasions, tears, dust, grease, oil and much more.
Another benefit they bring is the improved look of the document. Every laminated piece looks much more aesthetically pleasing and has a more professional look. It also makes the document look more important, impressive and of better quality. Plus, it’s something you can use at home to save some important documents, drawings and papers from your kids and keep them forever.
