What A Commercial Laminator Machine Does For Businesses

If you’re interested in purchasing a commercial laminator machine, there’s one question you have to get out of the way first: Do you actually need one? Believe it or not, you don’t have to invest in a large format laminating machine in order to handle your lamination needs. Rather, you can outsource the production aspects of lamination while still maintaining the quality of your output. Outsourcing lamination isn’t right for everyone, but if you’re looking for certain techniques and equipment, it could be the best choice possible. Curious? Take an informational journey with Conversion Technologies International to learn about commercial lamination!

What’s the difference between a commercial laminator machine and a home laminator machine?

While functionally both a home laminator machine and a commercial laminator machine handle the same basic process, practically speaking they serve very different purposes. Home laminator machines may serve individual craft projects, literally done in the home; or, in some cases, they may serve small scale settings (like, say, a teacher’s classroom). A commercial laminator machine is specifically made for larger scale projects, and are typically used directly by businesses or via third party manufacturers.

Typically, commercial laminators utilize different lamination methods in comparison to home laminators. Most home lamination machines favor pouch lamination. This method relies on pre-laminated sealed pouches, which encapsulate the document in use. This enables you to laminate the product on all sides, allowing for a good amount of durability. The product is less likely to tear or bend when you use pouch lamination, but it’s also forced into a degree of rigidity that isn’t ideal for all materials. Furthermore, there’s a limitation to this method. You’re limited to the size of the pouch, which means you’re also sacrificing flexibility in terms of the project itself.

The format of pouch lamination also means you’ll ultimately spend more if you need to laminate more products. In short, there’s a reason why this method better suits small scale projects. It’s really not meant to encompass the types of projects a commercial laminator machine would.

Naturally, a commercial laminator machine may cost more in the short term. This is one reason why many small business owners choose instead to work with third party manufacturers. You get the results you need—with flexibility—while avoiding a permanent investment you might not need. In other words, you’re getting all the benefits of an industrial lamination machine without any of the risk.

What machine is best for industrial laminating?

Typically, a heavy duty commercial laminating machine relies on both heat and pressure to execute production. This is one of the reasons why many businesses favor a roll laminator over alternative options. By utilizing the roll process, we can properly seal the lamination without bubbles or wrinkles. Essentially, the roll laminator places the product between sheets of laminating film. Then, it applies pressure through the rolls.

However, it’s important to note that the pressure isn’t the only factor to consider. In fact, you’ll choose between two types of roll lamination: hot roll lamination and cold roll lamination. While both processes have their pros and cons, it’s important that you know exactly what you’re looking for when you select your method.

What’s the difference between hot and cold roll lamination?

The difference between hot and cold lamination lies in the rollers themselves. Hot roll lamination utilizes heated rollers, with one positioned at the top and the other at the bottom. The heat of the rollers liquifies a solid glue, allowing it to adhere the laminating film to the substrate. Cold lamination is more limited—the solid-to-liquid glue tends to be a stronger adhesive. However, the pressure used through cold lamination can still be rather effective in the right settings, and it’s the better choice for certain projects.

We use cold roll lamination when working with heat-sensitive products. These include glossy papers, photographs, and inkjet-printed business cards. In this case, we avoid heat because of the risk of smearing and wrinkling, as well as the potential for melt.

Generally speaking, however, hot roll lamination offers more benefits for the typical project. It offers faster processing, saving you both time and money in the long term. Additionally, it’s more affordable than cold roll lamination, and the final products tend to be of a higher quality. Hot roll lamination creates a more durable effect as well, making it preferable for materials that can withstand the process. Products covered by hot roll lamination include magazine covers, posters, postcards, and paperback book covers.

But to be clear, both hot and cold roll lamination offer certain shared benefits. They’re both more cost-effective for large scale products than alternatives like pouch lamination. Both offer increased durability, ensuring the staying power of your products. Both are rather versatile (within their temperature limitations), covering thin documents and thick cardstock alike. Ultimately, we encourage consulting with a manufacturing expert before making a selection between cold roll lamination and hot roll lamination. 

CTI is Here to Help

Now that you know a bit more about commercial lamination in general, ask yourself again: Do I really need my own machine? If you still aren’t sure, or are curious about pursuing outsourcing further, call CTI at 419-924-5566 or contact us here for more information. We’ll further unpack your specific project and see if it’s something a third party manufacturer could address.