Mar. 24, 2025
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Trying to choose the perfect laminating machine can be overwhelming, to say the least. Pouch or roll? Hot or cold? Automatic or manual? Not to mention the different types of film and supplies. The questions can be endless. In this guide, we'll cover the essentials of laminating machines and supplies so you can ditch the overwhelm and make an informed decision that aligns with your needs.
First impressions count when it comes to professional documents, and the quality of your presentations can make or break a deal. This is where the power of document lamination can't be denied. Whether you're safeguarding cherished student artwork, enhancing the vibrancy of your graphic display, or making your restaurant menus withstand the test of time (and spills!), a laminating machine can elevate your projects to their highest potential. But with so many options at your fingertips, how do you find a machine that perfectly meets your needs?
We'll give you all the essentials you need to know in this guide, covering:
So, how do you choose the right laminating machine? It all starts with knowing the type of machine you need and what features to consider. Let's take a deeper look at laminating machines so you can make an informed decision.
No matter the project, there's a laminating machine for you. Each has its capabilities and applications, so a successful project starts with choosing the right machine. Available lamination machines include:
Once you've narrowed down the type of laminator you need for your material, there are several considerations for choosing the right machine to get the job done:
There are also some important precautions to take for successful lamination, including using the correct pouch or film settings, aligning projects precisely, allowing the machine to warm up completely, and doing test runs before the final project.
After evaluating your project needs, you also need to compare what your desired laminators offer to make sure you get the most value for your purchase. Other common features to look out for include:
The lamination film, method, and supplies you use can make or break your lamination processes, so it's essential to understand these factors. When you know exactly what to use with your project and how to use it, you can choose the right supplies for success.
There are several types of lamination film, each with its own applications and type of material it can laminate. The determining factor of a lamination film is the type of adhesive it uses because the adhesive is what gets applied to the paper to adhere to the protective laminate layer.
What you use to print on your paper determines what adhesive is best for your application. So it's very important to choose the right type of film to make sure your laminate's adhesive is compatible with your material. The six types of laminating materials are:
This is a regular monopolymer film with the highest melt temperature range of 260-290 degrees. Standard laminating film is generally referred to as 'school film' because schools often use it due to its low price. It's available in thicknesses of 1.5 mil and 3 mil, and 1.5 mil is the most common thickness for school use.
Premium laminating film is a copolymer film, which means it has a specialized blend of adhesives to create a more aggressive bond. It has a lower melting temperature of 230 degrees, so it typically runs at 220-270 degrees in a laminator. It's one of the most popular films for businesses thanks to its strong sticking power and wide thickness range of 1.5 mil to 10 mil. This makes it perfect for various uses such as:
This premium-grade film is compatible with toner-based copies or graphics, so it's commonly used to laminate digital printing color copies. It has the strongest adhesive and a wide thickness range of 1.5 mil to 10 mil.
Color Bond laminating film can laminate various types of media, from paper to plastics to vinyl. It's also available in both matte and gloss and has a very low melting temperature of 185 degrees. It is typically run at 185-230 degrees depending on the laminator speed.
This premium polyester base film is designed for large documents that are between 38 to 65 inches wide. Gold-Lam wide format film comes in one thickness of 5 mil and is typically used for graphics used with inkjet, solvent-based, or latex-based printers. It's typically laminated at lower speeds around four feet per minute and a low melting temperature of 185-230 degrees.
It can laminate a wide variety of media, from paper to plastics to vinyl, but it's typically used for thermal laminating on paper-based graphics. This film doesn't have UV inhibitors to prevent fading from sun exposure.
This low-melt film is the same as Gold-Lam film, but it has added UV inhibitors in the adhesive layer to reduce color fading from UV light. Unlike the Gold-Lam film, Platinum-Lam wide format film is available in gloss, satin, and matte finishes and thicknesses of 3 mil, 5 mil, and 10 mil in three-inch cores.
Also known as cold adhesive film or pressure-sensitive mounting film, this film is used with wide-format applications for vinyl-based graphics. PSA film is most commonly used in the sign industry to mount graphics for display. You can precoat mounting boards or create large decals by applying the film to the back of the print. They may even be used for creating window graphics, floor graphics, outdoor signage, and removable applications.
This thin, polypropylene (OPP)-based or nylon-based film is commonly used for book covers, packaging, posters, photos, and maps. It is only used with a specialized single-side laminator and is available in thicknesses of 1.1 mil, 1.3 mil, and 1.5 mil.
Hot lamination uses a combination of pressure and heat to adhere laminate adhesive to an item. It's typically used for polyester-based, OPP-based, and nylon-based film for two-sided lamination.
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On the other hand, cold lamination only applies pressure to adhere a pressure-sensitive adhesive to laminate documents. It uses a special vinyl lamination film to protect heat-sensitive materials like photographs, vinyl, and inkjet-printed documents.
Last but certainly not least, you need the right accessories and tools to round your laminating process out and provide that perfect finish. Some essential tools you'll need include:
Laminating allows a variety of industries to protect and preserve important documents, boost their aesthetics, and demonstrate their commitment to quality and professionalism. Consider some industry-specific applications for lamination.
Restaurant menus go through a lot of handling, dropping, abrasions, and spilling. Lamination can protect them from damage and wear and tear while elevating their look. Not to mention the need to clean between customers.
Durability is key in classrooms where little hands frequently use materials. Laminating is a teacher's best friend for making materials last longer and withstand the rigors of a hands-on learning environment.
Teachers benefit from preserving documents with lamination, protecting anything from precious student artwork to reusable teaching aids and flashcards. Teachers can even use foil laminators to make dazzling wall posters or for students to make beautiful projects like cards for friends and family.
Cleanliness is paramount in medical environments like hospitals and clinics. Laminated items are easy to sanitize, helping to maintain hygienic standards. As a result, the healthcare industry often uses lamination for materials such as signs, instructions, IDs, and more.
Retail businesses often have fast-paced environments with many people coming and going and touching things. Laminated point-of-sale displays, loyalty cards, and price tags are resistant to damage and more durable, maintaining a clean, professional look that enhances the shopping experience and brand image.
Graphic design and advertising is all about making banners, posters, and signage pop and wow the viewer. Laminating adds gloss or matte finishes that do just that. But it does more. It also protects them from environmental factors like sunlight, heat, and rain so they remain vibrant for a long time.
Real estate companies often use laminating to create a polished look that withstands the elements for marketing materials, property listings, outdoor displays, take-home brochures, and more.
Government sectors often use laminating for papers such as vehicle registrations and informational pamphlets so they can withstand frequent use and handling. They also use wide-format laminating for educational signage.
These are just some examples of industries that tap into the benefits of laminating documents. It can be used by virtually any industry to safeguard and prolong the life of important documents, making it perfect no matter what you need.
With the right machine, tools, and supplies, you can create beautiful, well-protected documents that stand out and last the test of time. Here at Binding101, we provide high-quality laminating machines and supplies so you can create the best project for your unique needs.
Are you ready to start your laminating journey on the right foot?
Browse All LaminatingWe know that it can be frustrating and overwhelming to search for the best roll laminating machine to buy -- there are thousands of machines, and hundreds of different brand names to sort through. So how do you know which is best? We've put together a short list of questions and tips that you should keep in mind during your search. These will help ensure you ask the right questions, and focus on the most important specs and features of the machine.
Roll laminators are available as small as 12' and as large as 27', so you will need to consider the widest item that you will be laminating. Remember that you will need to leave at least 1/4' of laminate around the edges of your document. Will a standard roll laminator width work for you, or do you need a wide format laminator for extra wide applications to 55" or more?
Many roll laminators have the capability to mount, however, you will need to check the specifications of the different models if this is a feature that you will be using. Some may only work with thin boards, while others thick boards up to 1".
Most roll laminators can laminate the maximum laminate available; 10 mil, however, it is always a good idea to double-check that your particular model will be able to handle the thickness that you will be using. Some of the less expensive models may be more limited in their ability to handle thicker laminate mils.
How much space do you have, and how big is the machine? Will it need to sit on a stand, or will it go on a table top? Remember, for roll laminating machine you need access to both the front and back of the machine, so most users will place it in a central location of the room, or turn it sideways closer to the wall. Laminating machines require a decent amount of space to be run properly. Keep your working space in mind when shopping, and remember to always ask for the machine dimensions before ordering.
Who will be using the laminator? Will it be only trained print shop workers, or will it be multiple office staff or teachers? Ease of use is important for many customers, especially those who will be using the laminator in environments with multiple un-trained users, such as schools or offices. If you are one of these customers, then you will want to confirm that the machine is easy to use and does not require special training to operate.
Now let's quickly review the basics of roll laminating. A roll laminator is a hot or cold laminator that uses laminating film to encapsulate and protect documents larger than you would normally be able to accomplish with a pouch laminator. Roll laminating machines are designed for high volume runs as they allow for a continuous run of product or job. Roll laminators are perfect for laminating posters, maps, book covers, signs, photographs, charts, and much more. They allow for high production rates, are durable and built with heavy duty materials to last, and they allow applications to be wiped clean. Many roll laminators can also handle mounting documents onto foam board and other mounting boards; often as thick as 3/16' thick boards or more. Roll lamination is typically used for two sided lamination, completely encapsulating your documents in a protective lamination. In two-sided lamination, a top and bottom laminating roll are mounted onto the laminating machine with the adhesive sides facing each other. When the roll laminator is turned on the rolls are uncoiled and pressed onto the document. The heat and pressure applied then seals the lamination around the document, creating a protected and attractive finish. Lamination protects against spills, bending and tearing, and many films even protect against UV damage.
Take a look at the various roll laminating machines that we offer at Binding101. What is most unique about our limited selection is that we have weeded out the lower-quality machines, so we only offer you a tested and 101 approved quality laminator. When you buy a roll laminator from us, you can feel confident that the "is this a good brand?" questions has been answered with a "heck yes!". Plus, we have some of the highest quality roll laminate film available as well, for an all over perfect finish.
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