Key Questions to Ask When Ordering industrial roll laminator machine

We 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.

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TIP# 1) Make sure you know what maximum width you will need to laminate, not just now, but in the future.

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?

TIP# 2) Ask yourself if you need to also be able to mount onto foam board.

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".

TIP# 3) Know the thickest laminate mil you will need to work with.

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.

TIP# 4) Think about where the laminator will go.

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.

TIP# 5) Think about the potential users of the machine.

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.

Use this handy guide to help you make the right choice of laminator for your specific needs. Asking yourself these questions will help to ensure that the machine you purchase best suits your requirements. Make sure you take into consideration all the aspects shown. You can also visit our Laminators & Laminating Machines Blog for a wealth of useful information on laminating machines, laminating film and laminating pouches. Alternatively of course, you can call one of our advisers at standard rates on   for assistance.

What Is Lamination?

Lamination or encapsulation is a fast and simple way to protect documents, signs, artwork and graphics. Strictly speaking, the term “lamination” refers to applying a protective film to one side of an item that can be trimmed right to the edge of the item without the bond breaking down. In this case, pressure-sensitive or single-side heat-sensitive film is used – always in the form of rolls. Examples of this would include the protective film on the front of a business card; self-adhesive wall or floor graphics; good quality restaurant menu; or estate agent house brochure.

“Encapsulation” describes the process where low-melt film in the form of pouches or rolls is used, leaving a border of about 5mm all the way around the edge of the item to ensure the integrity of the lamination. Most people will be more familiar with this technique and indeed, it will be the technique they need to use. Trimming to the edge of the item using encapsulation film will result in the eventual breakdown of the lamination bond, hence the need for the border. Examples of this would include large and small format posters in schools, shops or at exhibitions; photos; office signs; identity badges; etc.

In the real world, the term “lamination” has tended to become a catch-all or generalisation to describe both the main processes described above, so it is important to be clear on your requirements before proceeding. Call us on  if you are unsure.

Encapsulated items become completely waterproof and tear-proof, because the clear film is bonded all the way around the edge of the document. Laminated items benefit from surface protection.

Benefits of Laminating Documents

• Enhancement and preservation of colour and contrast to images
• Professional, quality-looking documents
• Long-term protection of documents that need frequent handling
• Quick and easy, with immediate results
• Avoid creases, wrinkles, sun damage, abrasions, tears, smudges, fingerprints and grease marks
• Protection from  spills, rain and mild chemicals

How would you best describe your daily usage?

Light Duty: Up to 5 sheets per day, a Home Office or Small Office machine should be adequate for your needs.

Light - Medium Duty: Up to 10 sheets per day, a Small Office machine should be adequate for your needs.

Medium Duty: Up to 15 sheets per day, an Office laminator would be best suited to your needs.

Heavy Duty: Up to 25 sheets per day, a Heavy Duty machine is strongly recommended for this level.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit industrial roll laminator machine.

Professional: 25 sheets or more per day, a Professional or Roll laminator is strongly recommended for this level.

What maximum width of item do you need to laminate?

It’s important to bear in mind that the laminating width shown for all our machines is the maximum they can laminate. This means they can laminate all sizes up to that maximum. For example, an A3 machine can also laminate A4 and even smaller sizes such as credit card, ID, badge, etc.

On the flip side, an A4 machine can laminate no bigger so it’s important to consider carefully if you will ever need or wish to laminate something bigger - albeit the requirement may be infrequent - before making your choice.

As a guide, most people need to laminate A4 paper (normal size printer paper) almost all the time but also need to process A3 occasionally. This means that the trend in sales is towards A3 machines, which enables people to deal with these two key sizes.

Of course, if your requirements are even more flexible, such as wide format or long lengths then you should look at one of the roll laminators or commercial laminators in our Wide Format section.

What is the maximum pouch thickness you are likely to use?

Standard pouches of 75 or 80 microns per side (total 150/160 microns when laminated) are fine for items that will get little handling and not be exposed to the elements. Typically, most documents will get a very good level of protection with a pouch of up to 125 microns per side (total 250 microns when laminated). Commercial, industrial or professional applications will require pouches of a greater thickness for maximum protection and an appropriate machine will be needed to take these pouches. Check the machine’s specification carefully to ensure it can handle the pouches you wish to laminate.

Do you need to laminate photos?

All the pouch laminators we offer can handle photos.

What is a pouch carrier and do you need one?

A pouch carrier is a Teflon or cardboard protective sleeve consisting of two sides and sealed or hinged at one end, that a pouch with the item to be laminated within, is itself inserted into before feeding into the laminator.

With the exception of the Peak Educator series of laminators and GBC Academy laminator, all our pouch laminators can be used without a carrier. Carriers also are not applicable to roll laminators. The Peak Educator series and GBC Academy are designed to be used at all times with a carrier such as the Lifejacket (see below).

Other, modern laminators do not need a carrier except if you intend to use your laminator for the lamination of small, multiple items in a larger pouch (i.e flash cards or similar to be cut out after lamination); odd-shaped items (i.e. stars, speech bubbles, etc.); any item that does not match the pouch size; or uneven items like children's artwork, collages or other uneven materials. In this case you should purchase a Lifejacket pouch carrier with your order. Using a Lifejacket pouch carrier in these instances dramatically cuts down on the likelihood of a jam. Failure to do so may invalidate your warranty if you then laminate such items and require technical support as a consequence.

A cardboard carrier should not be used with a modern laminator but we do have cardboard carriers available for older laminators in our Pouches and Carriers category.

Rollers

The more rollers that a machine has the better quality the lamination and the less likely it is that jams will occur. This is because with more rollers, the path through the machine is smoother and the heat applied to the pouch more consistent. Wherever possible select a machine with the highest number of rollers that your budget will allow for the best results.

Call us!

Don’t hesitate to call us for advice if you need it on our standard rate number:

Contact us to discuss your requirements of flatbed plotter. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.