Laminator
Questions

• Adds value to all kinds of printed materials
• Significantly enhances the color and contrast of graphics
• Protects items from fingerprints, smudges, and scratches
• Protects items like menus which endure lots of handling
• Gives color graphics an attractive "wet look"
• Allows materials to be kept in like-new condition for many years
• Helps preserve colors longer indoors or outdoors
• Allows items to be handled and shipped without damage
• Provides very long term preservation without climate control
• Allows inexpensive paper items or banners to be used outdoors
• Allows paper items to be used underwater and in other extreme conditions
• Gloss, matte or satin films can enhance the appearance of finished print for a particular application
• Makes it easier to mount images on any mounting board
• Increases the strength and rigidity of printed materials
• Additional rigidity allows items to stand free or be placed in a frame without backing or reinforcement
• Prepares items for immediate presentation under a variety of conditions and display methods with a single step

What's the difference?

	A pouch laminator is a desk-top machine that is light-weight and easy to move. It uses pre-cut pieces of laminate called "pouches" to encapsulate objects in laminate on both sides. A pouch laminator is typically used to laminate objects no larger than 11" x 17".
	A roll laminator is larger and more heavy-duty than a pouch laminator. It uses two rolls of laminate to encapsulate objects in laminate. The sealed product is then trimmed away from the rolls of film. Roll laminators are available in 12" up to 60" widths, and so can handle very large objects.

Which one is right for me?

Choose a pouch laminator if:

• You only need to laminate objects less than 11" x 17" in size.
• One of the pre-cut pouch sizes will fit your product (i.e., you won't have to trim it out with scissors)
• You want the convenience of putting the laminator away after use.
• You want to minimize the cost of the equipment.

Choose a roll laminator if:

• You need to laminate objects larger than 11" x 17" in size.
• The products you laminate are irregular in size.
• You have workspace for a permanent location for the laminator.
• You will laminate a large volume of products and want more speed.
• You want to minimize the supply cost of your laminate (The cost per square inch of rolls of laminating film is usually less than the cost of laminating pouches).

Both hot (thermal) and cold (pressure-sensitive) laminators and supply laminate are available. In general, the thermal laminating process is much less costly than pressure-sensitive, so you would want to choose a thermal laminator if you can use it for your application.

If you plan to laminate a product that was printed with wax-based ink, or a product that has a rough texture, or a product that has high moisture content (such as photographs), you may want to consider using a pressure-sensitive process.

Our Xyron laminator is a pressure-sensitive laminator that is very affordable for some applications. It is typically used by graphic artists, craft and scrapbook hobbyists, and schools.

Also available are the commercial Pre-Masker, used for applying pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes or films, and several industrial machines: Econocraft, Signmaster, and Entry 4500, which are widely used in sign-making.

Conventionally printed graphics usually lend themselves to either mounting process. However, when coated papers are being mounted to coated substrates, cold mounting will be more reliable. In digital imaging applications PSA adhesives are being used more often than dry mount adhesives. They can be run a lot faster, and they lend themselves to relatively high speed simultaneous mounting and laminating

Conventional dry-mount adhesives often don't do a good job of holding coated inkjet papers to coated mounting materials such as foamboard. While some new heat-activated adhesives have been developed especially for coated papers and mounting boards, many imaging businesses still use cold pressure-sensitive adhesives for mounting. Some PSA films and adhesives apply faster when a small amount of heat is applied.

Considerations for Heat-Activated Mounting Adhesive

• Fraction of cost of cold adhesives
• New thermal adhesives are slightly tacky at room temperature
• Can be much more aggressive than standard dry mount tissue
• Available pre-coated boards
• No release liner to remove
• Easier to simultaneously mount and laminate in one pass
• Allows one-pass mounting with an image on both sides
• Users cannot coat own boards

• Will adhere to a broader range of materials
• Available with a greater variety of adhesives
• Easy to pre-coat your own boards with the right laminator
• Can be used on almost any substrate
• Clear adhesives can be used for face-mounting

• Standard dry mount tissue may not stick to some papers
• In cold mounting, high tack adhesive may promote wrinkles

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