Double Roller Mesh Belt Laminating Machine Uses And Qualities

When you hear “double roller mesh belt laminating machine”, what do you think of? Conversion Technologies International has the story behind this unique type of double sided laminator.

What is a double roller mesh belt laminating machine?

The key purpose of a double roller mesh belt laminating machine is sealing multiple layers of specific materials together.  Usually, those materials are flexible, including:

• Foam
• Leather
• Fabric
• Non-woven products

Where does the mesh come from? Well, it’s an important part of the process. The mesh makes up two different conveyor belts, which work alongside heating or cooling rollers. By cooperating with each other, the mesh conveyor belts and the rollers create a solid, dependable structure.

We first feed the material into the lowest mesh belt, along with the desired adhesives. Usually, these adhesives are hot melt—often thermoplastic. The upper and lower mesh belts create a sandwich effect, pressing the material and the adhesive tightly together. At this point, the belt roller machine pushes the materials into a heated zone. The heat activates the adhesive, melting it and making the materials adhere. A combination of intense pressure and heat create the sealing effect.

Immediately after, the laminated product passes into a cooling zone. The cool temperatures solidify the adhesives, making the bond between materials permanent. Then, the product leaves the belt laminator, the process complete.

Do I need a belt laminating machine?

Truly, the answer to this question depends on your goals, your needs, and how much product you’re working with. Different types of lamination equipment range in terms of how much they they can accomplish. Some—such as a pouch laminator—we typically use for small, personal projects, or small-scale lamination runs. Others, like for example a dual roll laminator, we use for industrial purposes.

An industrial laminator needs to work on a large scale. While cutting costs whenever possible and providing efficiency, the purpose is ultimately volume. Some business owners approach industrial machines the same way they would smaller machines. They figure that investing in a machine will save them money in the long term. However, this often isn’t the case, for several reasons.

For one thing, you may or may not need a laminating machine for the long term. As your business changes and grows, your needs may evolve. Additionally, there’s more to production than buying a machine. Over the years, you’ll need to maintain the machine—if a laminating machine roller breaks, the entire machine breaks down.

Furthermore, consider the supporting expenses. You’ll buy the necessary materials, which can add quite a bit of expense. Many businesses invest in facilities to process large scale production orders, either buying outright or renting. In many cases, you’ll pay to either train existing employees in the required operations, or hire new, qualified employees.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have more questions? Don’t worry—we have answers.

What are the different types of lamination machines?

Obviously, the double belt roller mesh belt laminating machine is one option. However, it’s by no means the only one. Some of the other laminating machines available include:

• The pouch laminator. We mentioned this one above, as one of the smaller lamination machines that typically fit more personal or small scale projects better. This machine essentially passes products—usually documents—through a pre-coated pouch. While it effectively laminates documents, the process is fairly slow and we can’t use it for mass production. There are two main variations: hot pouches and cool pouches, which utilize the according temperatures.
• The roll laminator. Technically, the double roller mesh belt laminating machine falls under the umbrella of roll machines. These machines use rollers and pressure to achieve full lamination.
• The automatic laminator. This machine functions similarly to a printer on the surface, in that you feed the material into the machine for automatic lamination.
• The wide format laminator. This laminator is larger than similar machines, used for large printing projects and signage. They often provide protective coatings and glossy finishes.

Where can I get a double belt laminator?

You can buy a belt laminator used by private sellers, or directly from manufacturers and suppliers. While you may save money by purchasing a used machine, they can come with unseen issues. Some fail to offer the required capabilities. The research necessary before your purchase can take up quite a bit of time.

Conversely, buying from a manufacturer or supplier can become quite costly. Consider too the shipping times and costs, as well as the assemblage process. While manufacturers and suppliers exist across the world, you may experience a bit of a wait when buying a machine. It’s not quite as simple as searching “a lamination machine near me” online.

This is one of many reasons why some business owners choose to outsource lamination services. While you might initially experience concern about outsourcing to a third party manufacturer, it’s actually quite common. It can save you money, time, and the frustrations of trial and error. Experienced manufacturers already know what we’re doing, and we can provide valuable support as your business develops.

What company produces laminated products?

CTI, to start! While we aren’t the only lamination services provider on the market, we are highly experienced—and we believe in treating business relationships as partners, valuing your input. Call us at 419-924-5566 or contact us here. We’ll walk you through our process.