Laminating machines come in handy for many business needs, including the safekeeping of important documents and the durability of personnel badges and security tags. Laminating in-house will save your business time and money. To ensure that workplace lamination runs smoothly, it is critical to keep the necessary supplies and accessories in stock.

You can do so by purchasing laminating supplies for roll or pouch laminating machines online. Consider the following types of lamination before deciding to purchase supplies for laminating machines:

1. Hot Laminators: Heat sensitive adhesives bind lamination film together; documents and materials are more resistant to wear and tear. Most common type of lamination machine.

2. Cold Laminators: Pressure sensitive adhesives bind lamination film together; works best with heat-sensitive documents and materials. Easier and safer to use than hot laminators.

3. Self Laminators: Self sealing laminating pouches are used without a heat source or machine. Quality is not reliable or assured.

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Purchase laminating supplies online

Buy lamination supplies such as lamination film and pouches online to ensure your workplace is stocked with the necessary binding accessories. Having laminator supplies on hand will make laminating jobs run quickly and smoothly. Many laminating machine manufacturers also offer supplies for purchase.

I recommend: Graphic Products guarantees same-day shipping and provides a wide assortment of hot and cold laminating supplies. View the supplies and accessories available at Fellowes that are compatible with all lamination machines.

Buy accessories to complete your laminating service needs

Complete laminating projects undertaken at your business with supplies and accessories such as trimmers, cutters, badge holders, protective carriers or attachable clips and pins. Keeping accessories like these on hand will ensure your business has an efficient laminating system. You can purchase such supplies online without the hassle of leaving the workplace.

I recommend: Buy accessories to complete your laminating projects at Lamination Plus or Office Zone. You can purchase trimmers and cutters at Laminator Warehouse.

Purchase cleaning supplies to keep laminators working properly

Ensure that your laminating machinery runs efficiently and smoothly with regular upkeep and cleaning. Guarding against prospective laminating equipment malfunctions and problems will not only save your business time but money as well.

I recommend: Factory Express and Laminating 101 offer laminating cleaning accessories for sale. You can purchase a laminating cleaning kit at ABC Office.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Documents that are minimally handled and those that will be handled more frequently will require different amounts of laminating material thickness. Documents that can be more flexible should use pouches with about 3 mil thickness while documents requiring durability should use at least 5 mil thickness. Each thickness will work properly with any lamination equipment.

Laminating machines protect important or frequently used documents and can be used in small companies or major corporations. Laminators can help you save money by eliminating the need to recopy or reprint documents that have not held up. Lamination machines are great for businesses that regularly print items, such as ID cards, maps or menus. And laminators are a crucial piece of equipment for companies that produce VIP passes and backstage passes for concerts, sporting events and other events.

The advantages of using laminating machines go beyond durability. For instance:

1. Large format laminators can protect colors from fading on posters, signs and banners.
2. You can add value to the printed piece you are producing for customers by sending it through laminating machines.
3. Laminating documents protects them from moisture, dirt and stains.
4. Laminating documents and ID cards reduces the chances of tampering.
5. Add a variety of finishes to paper with gloss, matte, satin or textured lamination film.
6. Improve color, contrast and clarity of images by sending them through lamination machines.

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Pouch laminating machines

The most popular laminators on the market, pouch laminating machines are compact - 4-inch and 12-inch models are the most common. With pouch laminating machines, you place your document between two pieces of heat-activated film that are cut into a pre-sized pouch. The pouch is then passed through the laminator, which has rolls to sandwich the item that's being laminated. Small format laminating machines are perfect for offices that only use lamination for ID cards or small photos.

I recommend: ID House offers small format pouch laminating machines for use in laminating ID cards, badges and luggage tags. Office Graphics and Trendex offer inexpensive pouch laminating machines for simple desktop lamination projects. ABC Office has a variety of pouch laminating machines that range from $50 to $3,000.

Roll laminating machines

Roll laminating machines have two rolls of film that sandwich the item that is being laminated between the top and bottom rolls of film and heat seal the item. The plus side of using roll laminating machines is that they can be used continuously without reloading the film for many documents at one time.

I recommend: Lloyds of Indiana carries roll laminating machines for education and commercial uses. Factory-Express sells a variety of countertop and standalone roll laminating machines.

Large format laminators

Large format laminators are usually roll laminating machines that allow you to laminate large posters and banners. You can laminate very long items with continuous rolls of film.

I recommend: NSC International has heavy-duty large format roll laminating machines in 25- and 30-inch widths. LaminateFilm.com has several 27-inch wide heavy-duty large format laminators. The large format laminators at Heavenly Office vary from 30- to 63-inch widths.

Adhesive laminating machines

Rather than heat-sealing documents into lamination film, adhesive or cold laminating machines use sticky film to sandwich paper between the two pieces of film.

I recommend: Laminator Warehouse boasts several sizes of adhesive laminating machines. Laminators.com sells small desktop cold laminating machines and wide format cold laminating machines.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Cold laminating machines can be safer to use for inexperienced people since they don't require heat and cannot cause serious burns.
• •  Keep in mind that some laminating machines don't work with every thickness of film.
• •  Lamination film thickness is measured in millimeters.
• •  Opt for adhesive laminating machines for images that are heat sensitive.

Laminating machines education and training is useful in a variety of businesses. Schools, school supply stores, office supply stores and document processing companies all use laminating machines to protect papers and documents. Laminating equipment and laminating supplies come in various sizes and forms. Small laminating machines are great for covering small items such as name badges, drivers' licenses and company cards. A larger laminating system covers large materials and poster-size documents.

While some businesses use laminating equipment for their personal business, others operate as a laminating service for customers. No matter which type of business you operate, learning how to properly operate and service a laminating machine is a plus. In addition, business owners need information to make educated decisions on purchases from laminating machine manufacturers. Consider the following laminating machine education and training:

1. Laminating machine manuals offer operating and servicing information for specific laminating machine models.

2. Videos feature visual step-by-step directions for laminating machine operation.

3. Articles offer details and suggestions about the type of laminating machine to purchase.

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Study owner manuals for operating a specific model of laminating machine

Lamination machines come with an owner's manual which gives details of operation for a specific model and brand of machine. Owner's operating manuals often give text and visual instructions, as well as offering details about the maintenance and care of the machine. In the event of a lost owner's manual or the purchase of a used machine without an owner's manual, most manufacturers will sell manuals; be certain the manual deals with your particular model.

I recommend: Tex's Surplus Sales offers manuals for various products and laminating machines. Manual N Guide has manuals available for office products including laminating machines.

View videos to see laminating machine operation and maintenance demonstrations

Some companies offer video demonstrations of how to properly operate their machinery. Videos offer better visuals than manuals or articles. However, videos are have a limited amount of topics covered. Videos help show basic operation and servicing techniques for laminating machines.

I recommend: USI Laminate offers product videos for laminating machine operation. SW Plastic also offers equipment videos including laminating equipment.

Search for articles that offer tips and suggestions for laminating machine use

Articles are another source for laminating machine education and training. Look for articles that feature tips, suggestions, and reviews of different types of machines from different laminating machinery manufacturers and distributors. Such articles discuss the features of each type of machine and give tips for their operation.

I recommend: The Office Guide features tips and suggestions for operating office machines and laminating equipment. Fellowes features different types of machines; the site has a link to a PDF document at the top for tips and suggestions on how to choose the right laminating machine for your job.

Laminating machines bind sealing material, called film, to documents. Laminating machines can be either hot or cold and come in various shapes and sizes. If you are planning to purchase a laminating machine for your business, it is imperative that you choose one that meets your objectives, whatever they may be. Once you have decided what your intentions are, selecting the right laminating machine can be simplified when you understand laminating machine terms.

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Lamination film

Lamination film is the material used to bind and seal documents. There are many types of film, each of which is best suited to certain applications.

I recommend: Laminator Warehouse sells several types of lamination film, including specialty products that are printable and have anti-microbial and water-resistant properties.

Pouch laminating machines

Describes laminating machines that utilize film pouches for lamination. Pouches are good for documents, IDs and other small-sized projects.

I recommend: USI Laminate features a comparison page for pouch laminating machines and includes useful information on their benefits.

Roll laminating machines

Describes laminating machines that utilize rolls of film for lamination. Roll laminating machines are often used for larger format projects, such as posters and banners.

I recommend: General Graphic discusses applications for roll laminators, as well as the features and benefits of its own products.

Mounting board capable

Describes a laminating machine feature that allows you to laminate a sheet onto a mounting board to create projects like signs and presentation documents. Not all laminating machines have this feature, so make sure to confirm before damaging your machine.

I recommend: LaminationKing offers a variety of mounting boards and explains the features and benefits of each.

Mil thickness

Short for millimeter, mil measures the thickness of a lamination film. Mil thicknesses usually range from 1.5 mil to 10 mil. The thinker the mil, the more durable. The type of project you need to laminate will determine the weight of the mil needed.

I recommend: Factory-Express discusses various mils and the best application for each, whether you are creating ID cards or large format banners.

Cold vs. hot laminating machines

Hot laminating machines use heat to meld the film to the project, whereas cold laminating machines use film with adhesive properties.

I recommend: ABC Office differentiates between the two methods of laminating and goes on to offer more extensive information on lamination. The site also includes a helpful glossary of laminating terms.