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Laminating is used to protect paper by effectively encasing it between two pieces of plastic. A Laminating machine is used to achieve this and they generally use either heat or pressure (or both) to bond the plastic in conjunction with adhesive. As a process laminating is reasonably straight forward, however there are a few different types of laminating machine available, these being; Pouch Laminators Heated Roll Laminators Cold Roll Laminators All of the above types of laminating machine essentially perform the same job, however which type is best suited to your needs will depend on what you intend to laminate and the budget you have available. Pouch Laminators Pouch Laminators are generally low in cost, especially for entry level machines, and are the most popular type of laminator for general office use and around the home as they are easy to use and ideal for notices, menus, photo's and ID Cards. A pouch laminator uses a laminating pouch or pocket which is basically a piece of plastic scored down the middle and folded in half. The paper is inserted into the pouch and as it passed through the machine the glue on the inner surface of the pouch is heated which secures the paper in the middle. The pouch is passed between rollers within the machine which removes air bubble and ensures the adhesive is bonded strongly. This process can cause glue to be squeezed from the end and sides of the pouch and this is why pouch laminators generally use a pouch carrier to catch excess glue which stops it leaking into the machine which in turn prevents jams and machine damage. Laminating Pouches come in a number or different sizes with the most common being A2 to ID Card size. Pouch thickness is measured in Microns which is a shortened term for a micrometre, the higher the microns the thicker the pouch and the more rigid the final laminated product. Heated Roll Laminators This style of laminating machine is uses a very similar process to pouch laminators, however heated roll laminators are designed for heavy duty and regular usage. They are much quicker to use when doing large volumes of laminating as they use two rolls of laminating film rather than pouches. As with laminating pouches the rolls have heat activated adhesive on one side, as the two rolls feed through the machine they are heated and bond to the item to be laminated. At the end of the process a large blade is used to remove the finished product. Cold Roll Laminators Cold Roll laminators are used when the item to be laminated may be susceptible to damage by heat such as wax based inks or fabrics. Cold roll laminators use a plastic film with adhesive that is activated by pressure rather than heat, as the film passes through the machine large amounts of pressure are applied to film and this secures it around the laminated item. Author Information: Carl Barton is the Commercial Director of Office Allsorts, a UK based supplier of office supplies and stationery. If you liked this article then please visit our site OfficeAllsorts.co.uk.
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