Wednesday, 1 February 2012

How to Choose the Laminator That's Right for You

If you need to make your documents last longer, the way to go about it is by using a laminator. There are many of these devices out there, so it can be difficult to know which one is right for you. This article will educate you about three kinds of laminators and fill you in on what you need to look for in order to choose the right machine. Let's get started....

    Pouch laminators. These laminators are used in homes, schools, and offices all over the country and they use laminating pouches. Pouch laminators are perfect for the everyday lamination of crafts, photographs, office documents, name tags, ID cards, and so on. In general, these machines are easy to use and many of them are affordable. They come in a variety of sizes, so you can just get a compact device if you work with smaller materials or a larger one if you need to laminate items that are letter-sized or larger. If you go with a pouch laminator, it's a good idea to get one that has double-walled insulation so the exterior is cool to the touch. The ability to shut off automatically is also a great feature as it can help you save energy.
   
    Roll laminators. If you need to laminate larger items such as posters, maps, blueprints, and so on, a roll laminator is an excellent choice. Most roll laminators are large and they can make your materials look great. There are machines that are designed for school use as well as devices that are professional-grade. (They're perfect for print shops and art studios.) The thing to keep in mind about these machines is that you need to use rolls of laminating film with them. Laminating film needs to be installed on the laminator and the installation process can be a bit tricky. (Although it does gets easier with time.)

    Cold laminators. Most pouch and roll laminators are thermal machines. In other words, these devices use heat to activate the pouch or roll's adhesive so your documents can be encapsulated. However, heat can damage some materials such as photographs and items printed on an ink-jet printer. That's why cold laminators were invented. These machines can still encapsulate your materials and make them look great. Also, these laminators are safe to use and many of them don't even need electricity to operate. If you want to do both hot and cold lamination, there are some pouch and roll laminators that have a cold setting. They are worth seeking out if they sound like the right machine for you.

Those are the three main types of laminators. No matter which kind of laminator you choose, you'll need to select a machine that's large enough to accommodate your documents. You will want to consider the cost of materials and the machine itself. And you should choose a machine made by a reputable manufacturer such as GBC, Fellowes, Royal Sovereign, or Ledco. Finally, the laminator should have a good warranty, i.e. one that lasts for at least six months.

Choosing the right laminator for your needs should be easy now that you know about three types of laminators and have information about what to look for. Good luck and happy laminating!

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