| A pouch laminator can make a great addition to your | | | | - Variable, Electronic Heat Control |
| home, office, school, or professional print shop, but | | | | - Heating Element: Heated Rollers |
| with all of the outstanding laminating machines on the | | | | - Warm-Up Time: 3 minutes |
| market, knowing which machine will fill your unique | | | | - Cold setting |
| needs can be difficult. Below we will break down the | | | | - One year warranty |
| differences between the various styles of pouch | | | | SircleLam LA-7020E |
| laminators to help you make an informed decision | | | | - Max. Laminating Speed: 33" per minute |
| about which laminating machine to purchase. | | | | - No carrier sheet required (recommended when |
| The Basics | | | | laminating 10 mil pouches) |
| Nearly all pouch laminators are thermal machines, | | | | - Max. Width: 11 13/16" |
| which means that they utilize heat to seal the pouch | | | | - Four Rollers |
| and fuse the layers together. Depending on the | | | | - Independent Heat & Motor Switches |
| machine, the heat is applied by either heated plates | | | | - Variable, Electronic Heat Control |
| or heated rollers. All machines utilize rollers to help | | | | - Heating Element: Aluminum Heat Plates |
| ensure secure adhesion, eliminate air bubbles and | | | | - Warm-Up Time: 3 minutes |
| move the laminated documents through the machine. | | | | - Cold setting |
| Low volume machines (primarily for home use) are | | | | - Five year warranty |
| equipped with two rollers, mid-level laminators (for | | | | Both of these machines are equipped to handle daily |
| offices or schools) contain 2-6 rollers and professional | | | | use, however they differ in a few key areas. The |
| laminating machines (for high volume users or copy | | | | Akiles APL-320 has a larger maximum width, but a |
| shops) include between four and ten rollers. | | | | slower laminating speed than the SircleLam LA-7020E. |
| Most machines offer variable temperature control to | | | | Independent heat and motor switches and variable, |
| allow users to adjust the heat level based on the | | | | electronic heat control are included on both |
| thickness of the laminating pouch. Many pouch | | | | laminators, but the types of heating elements differ. |
| laminators also include a reverse feature, which | | | | Depending on your requirements, either of these |
| makes it easier to clear jammed or misfed | | | | machines would be a productive and beneficial |
| documents. Other popular features include a stand-by | | | | addition to an office setting. If you need a machine |
| mode (preserves power while the machine is not | | | | that is even more powerful, then read on to learn |
| laminating), the ability to laminate without a carrier | | | | about professional pouch laminators. |
| sheet (used to prevent adhesive from oozing out | | | | Professional Pouch Laminators (for High Volume |
| from the edges of the laminating pouch and onto the | | | | Usage) |
| rollers), cool rollers (help to reduce curling of laminated | | | | Pouch laminating machines for professional settings |
| documents), and the ability to laminate photos. | | | | are the most robust machines on the market, and |
| When selecting a pouch laminator, you'll need to | | | | offer the most features. These laminators are |
| evaluate the features that are the most important to | | | | available in widths ranging from 4" to 44", and can |
| your specific needs. If you will be producing a high | | | | laminate pouches from 3 mil and 10 mil thick (with |
| volume of laminated documents, you may want to | | | | select machines having the ability to mount and |
| look for a machine that has a high maximum | | | | laminate simultaneously). Professional pouch laminators |
| laminating speed. If you regularly use thick laminating | | | | also have the highest maximum laminating speed, |
| pouches (7 mil or 10 mil), then you'll need to ensure | | | | with some machines laminating 12' per minute. Nearly |
| that your selected machine can handle thick pouches. | | | | all industrial machines come housed within metal |
| Those who only laminate IDs or badges may be | | | | casings for added durability. |
| content with a model that has a maximum document | | | | Though already discussed in the office pouch |
| width of 4", while those looking to laminate signs or | | | | laminators section, the SircleLam LA-7020E is also |
| displays will likely want a machine that offers a larger | | | | popular in professional settings. Other well-liked |
| width. Taking the time to review the features of the | | | | professional pouch laminators include the SpeedyLam |
| available pouch laminating machines will help to ensure | | | | 330R-10 from James Burn International and the Akiles |
| that you get the best laminator for your purposes. | | | | Pro-Lam Photo, which are detailed below: |
| Home Pouch Laminators (for Low Volume Usage) | | | | SpeedyLam 330R-10 |
| Pouch laminating machines for home use offer the | | | | - Max. Laminating Speed: 12' per minute |
| most basic features, without many of the advanced | | | | - No carrier sheet required |
| options that are used in office or professional | | | | - Max. Width: 13" |
| settings. These laminators are most commonly | | | | - Ten Rollers |
| available in 9" and 13" widths, and can laminate 3 mil | | | | - Independent Heat & Motor Switches |
| and 5 mil pouches only. | | | | - Variable, Electronic Heat Control |
| Among the most popular models of home pouch | | | | - Heating Element: Six Heated Rollers |
| laminators are the SircleLam HQ-230 and HQ-330. | | | | - Warm-Up Time: 5 minutes |
| Both versions offer the following features: | | | | - Cold setting |
| - Maximum laminating speed of 9.85" per minute | | | | - Max. Pouch Thickness: 14 mil |
| - Laminates photos | | | | Akiles Pro-Lam Photo |
| - No carrier sheet required | | | | - Max. Laminating Speed: 38" per minute |
| - Adjustable temperature | | | | - No carrier sheet required |
| - Cold setting (for use with self-adhesive "cold" | | | | - Max. Width: 13" |
| laminating pouches) | | | | - Six Rollers |
| - Reverse (for releasing jams) | | | | - Independent Heat & Motor Switches |
| - Six minute warm-up time | | | | - Variable, Electronic Heat Control |
| - One-year warranty | | | | - Heating Element: Four Heated Rollers |
| The only difference between these two models is | | | | - Warm-Up Time: 5 minutes |
| the maximum width - the HQ-230 laminates | | | | - Cold setting |
| documents up to 9" wide, while the HQ-330 allows | | | | - Max. Pouch Thickness: 10 mil |
| users to laminate documents up to 13" wide. If you | | | | Both of these machines are equipped to handle |
| only laminate infrequently, and do not use pouches | | | | high-volume, professional use, with the primary |
| thicker than 5 mil, then a home pouch laminating | | | | differences relating to the number of rollers and |
| machine may be the perfect choice for you. If you | | | | overall speed. The SpeedyLam 330R-10 from James |
| are looking for something a bit more robust, then | | | | Burn International laminates nearly four times as fast |
| read on to learn about office pouch laminators. | | | | as the Akiles Pro-Lam Photo and has two four |
| Office Pouch Laminators (for Moderate Usage) | | | | additional rollers, but the Akiles Pro-Lam Photo costs |
| Pouch laminating machines for office use offer a | | | | less than half of the price. Depending on your |
| greater range of features than those designed for | | | | requirements and resources, either of these machines |
| home use, and can handle a medium-to-high volume | | | | are capable of producing a high volume of laminated |
| of usage. These laminators are available in widths | | | | documents. |
| ranging from 4" to 13.5", and can laminate pouches | | | | In Review |
| from 3 mil and 10 mil thick. In addition to being able | | | | Whether you are looking to preserve family photos, |
| to stand up to more frequent usage than home | | | | enhance company ID cards or provide lamination |
| laminators, office pouch laminators also laminate much | | | | services at your print shop, pouch laminators are |
| more quickly (in some cases, more than three times | | | | cost-effective and user-friendly with numerous |
| as fast as the home machines). | | | | models to fit practically any need. Investing the time |
| Two the most popular models of office pouch | | | | to research the capabilities of the available machines |
| laminators are the Akiles APL-320 and the SircleLam | | | | will not only help you find the best machine for your |
| LA-7020E. Below is a comparison of their features: | | | | application, but will also help you make the most of |
| Akiles APL-320 | | | | your budget. There are many pouch laminators on |
| - Max. Laminating Speed: 24" per minute | | | | the market, and you can learn to distinguish quality |
| - Carrier sheet not required when laminating 5, 7 or | | | | laminators by evaluating key features. Remember, |
| 10 mil pouches | | | | what works best for someone else may not be a fit |
| - Max. Width: 12 1/2" | | | | for your unique needs, so performing your own |
| - Four Rollers | | | | research is a crucial step in the process of purchasing |
| - Independent Heat & Motor Switches | | | | a pouch laminator. |