Types Of Lamination Machines You should Get 2023
Lamination machines are for real essential in schools and offices. If you are intending to buy one, then this guide is just perfect for you. Read through to find out the things you need to know before buying the lamination machine.
What is Lamination?
Lamination or encapsulation is a fast and simple way to protect documents, signs, artwork, and graphics. Strictly speaking, the term “lamination” refers to applying a protective film to one side of an item that can be trimmed right to the edge of the item without the bond breaking down.
In this case, the pressure-sensitive or single-side heat-sensitive film is used – always in the form of rolls. Examples of this would include the protective film on the front of a business card; self-adhesive wall or floor graphics; a good quality restaurant menu; or an estate agent house brochure.
Benefits of Laminating Documents
- Enhancement and preservation of color and contrast to images
- Professional, quality-looking documents
- Long-term protection of documents that need frequent handling
- Quick and easy, with immediate results
- Avoid creases, wrinkles, sun damage, abrasions, tears, smudges, fingerprints, and grease marks
- Protection from spills, rain, and mild chemicals
Buyer’s Guide Lamination Machines
Document Size
Think of the documents you’ll be laminating. Will they all be the standard size? Or will you be laminating a range of sizes, from business cards to banners?
Pouch laminators are a great choice if you mostly laminate standard-size documents. You can also fit several small items within a lamination pouch. If you need more flexible options, a roll laminator is likely your best choice. Our roll laminators cover a wide variety of document widths, ranging from 9″ up to 27″. Automated laminators are ideal for standard-size documents, but can also laminate small items and documents up to 11″ x 17″.
Number of Sheets
Consider how often you laminate and the number of documents you will run at a time. If you laminate small projects once or twice a week, a pouch laminator is perfect for you. If you laminate larger quantities of large documents or odd shapes, a roll laminator will be your best bet. Automatic laminators are great for large lamination jobs with standard-size documents and for those who laminate several times a week.
Film Thickness
Laminating film is measured in mil. The larger the mil number, the thicker the laminate will be. Smaller mils retain more flexibility, while larger mils are rigid.
Pouch laminators can range from 3 mil-10 mil, which gives you a wide range of thickness options. Roll laminators typically run 1.5 mil-3 mil films. Automated laminators are able to run 3 mil and 5 mil film cartridges, making them a great choice for standard projects.
Number of Users
The number of people using the machine is a major factor to consider when choosing a laminator. Will it be used by a large team or will you be the only user?
Pouch machines are small and fit on your desktop, making them perfect for personal use. If you have multiple users, a roll laminator is an excellent choice. These machines are larger and can be set up in a shared workspace for everyone to use. Automated laminators are versatile and are great for either personal or shared use. Automatic settings make it easy to switch from one user to the next.
Cost
Keep in mind that a laminator is an investment. You will need to consider the cost of not just the laminator, but film supplies as well. No matter what kind of laminator you’re looking for, we offer a wide range of machines and supplies to fit nearly any budget.
Whether you’re buying your first laminator or looking for an upgrade, it’s important to keep these factors in mind. If you know which features are most important for your needs, you’ll be able to easily find the right machine for you.
| NAMES | SPECIFICATIONS | WHERE TO BUY |
SCOTCH Thermal Laminator
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GET ON AMAZON |
APACHE Thermal Laminator
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GET ON AMAZON |
Amazon Basics 12-Inch Thermal Laminator
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GET ON AMAZON |
SCOTCH Pro Thermal Laminator
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GET ON AMAZON |
Fellowes Saturn 3i
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GET ON AMAZON |
Laminator, 4 in 1 Laminator Machine
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GET ON AMAZON |
Scotch Thermal Laminator Combo Pack
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GET ON AMAZON |
VEVOR 25 Inch Manual Cold Roll Laminator
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GET ON AMAZON |
Swingline Laminator
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GET ON AMAZON |
Laminator Machine for A3/A4/A6, YE381 Thermal Laminating Machine
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GET ON AMAZON |
Best Lamination Machines
SCOTCH Thermal Laminator
The Scotch TL901X Thermal Laminator is a top-rated pouch laminator that’s ideal for home or office use. It can accommodate documents up to 9 inches wide, including standard 8.5-by-11-inch paper and smaller items like photographs. The laminator has settings for both 3- and 5-millimeter pouches and its two heated rollers help to prevent wrinkling and bubbling. A long wait time to heat up is its main drawback.
Scotch brand laminating pouches have an ultra-clear finish that allows you to clearly see your documents, and the unit comes with two letter-sized starter pouches.
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APACHE Thermal Laminator
If you’re looking for an inexpensive laminator that won’t get heavy use, the Apache AL9 is a great value. This pouch-style thermal laminator can process documents up to 9 inches wide, and it comes with a 20-pack of 5- and 3-millimeter pouches to get you started.
Features include a compact and lightweight design, which makes it easy to travel with, and it’s extremely easy to operate—simply wait for the machine to heat up, then feed your document through.
There’s a small switch that controls the anti-blocking system in case the laminator ever gets jammed, though the unit only has one heat setting.
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Amazon Basics 12-Inch Thermal Laminator
The Amazon Basics Thermal Laminator is one of the most compact units available, and, at just over 2 pounds, it’s easy to pack in your bag and take on the go.
This pouch-style laminator can accommodate documents up to 12 inches wide, and it offers two heat settings—one for 5-millimeter pouches and one for 3-millimeter pouches. It warms up in about four minutes, and there’s an indicator light that lets you know when it can be used.
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SCOTCH Pro Thermal Laminator
While it’s more expensive than other pouch laminators, the Scotch TL906 PRO has a number of features that make it easier to operate.
For instance, it has never-jam technology that prevents your documents from getting stuck inside the machine, and there’s also a retractable tray that makes it effortless to feed in pouches.
The machine has two heat settings for 3- and 5-millimeter pouches, and you can choose between the two using the LED touch controls. The laminator has two rollers that prevent the plastic from bubbling or wrinkling, and it automatically shuts off after an hour of inactivity for safety and to save energy.
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Fellowes Saturn 3i
The Fellowes Saturn 3i Laminator sits comfortably at the top of my list of the best laminators because it’s not only one of the fastest to warm up to use (one minute) but also quickly laminates (under a minute for an A4 document). The bonus is this large laminator can handle A3 documents, making it an ideal laminator for creatives looking to keep their photos and art prints safe and clean.
Jams can be irritating and while other good laminators on this list have unjammed switches and levers the Fellowes Saturn 3i Laminator features a more unique ‘jam-free’ system; its auto-reverse mechanism means misaligned docs are reversed and realigned automatically.
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Laminator, 4 in 1 Laminator Machine
The Buyounger 4-in-1 Thermal Laminator is a great machine for doing pretty much everything you’d need; it can laminate A4 and makes use of both 3 mils and 5 mils (though it lacks a manual switch to swap between the two sizes). The Buyounger also heats up in under two minutes and can handle both hot and cold lamination for heat-sensitive documents.
This is a quiet laminator and has a speed of 340mm/min, making it a speedy device to use if you’re a teacher or office worker needing to get through large bundles of documents. Just as importantly, the Buyounger 4-in-1 Thermal Laminator features an ABS jam release button for quickly unsticking documents, which in turn should extend the life of this laminator.
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Scotch Thermal Laminator Combo Pack
The Scotch Brand PRO Thermal Laminator is a neat little laminator that weighs less than most on this list. When it comes to classroom use, you want a laminator that will keep going without overheating or malfunctioning. After all, the whole student body’s going to want a go at some point, and you don’t want to let them down.
For a high level of reliability, we’d recommend the Scotch Pro Thermal Laminator. A real workhouse, this laminator takes about three to five minutes to warm up and uses two heated rollers to laminate material up to 9 inches wide. The results are bubble and wrinkle-free, and jams are pretty rare.
It’s also very easy to use, and it automatically shuts off after one hour of inactivity.
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VEVOR 25 Inch Manual Cold Roll Laminator
If you’re looking for the best eco-friendly laminator and your projects don’t require heat, this is a great option. The VEVOR Cold Roll Laminator is also our pick for the best cold laminator machine. Not only is this laminator highly reviewed, but it can also be used on projects up to 1 inch thick and 25 inches in width.
This unit has non-slip feet to keep it from moving around when you’re rolling out your projects, and it folds for easy storage. However, you might call this model the best desktop laminator because, at a little over 32 pounds, this unit isn’t known for its easy portability.
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Swingline Laminator
Another solid trimming laminator is the thermal laminator from Swingline. Available in a variety of colors and multiple sizes, it’s a terrific option for those who make crafts. The Swingline is compatible with 3 and 5-mil laminating pouches. It can cover most conventional documents with a lamination range of 9 or 12 inches (depending on the model you pick).
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Laminator Machine for A3/A4/A6, YE381 Thermal Laminating Machine
Possessing a double roller system, this laminator from Eficentline creates both A4 and A6 laminates with astonishing speed. Equipped with straight and patterned cutting mechanisms, it’s one of the best laminating machines for crafts.
The lamination range of this machine is around 13 inches. This unit comes equipped with an ABS button that allows you to do away with jams easily, and it takes between 3 and 5 minutes to heat up. While it’s bigger and bulkier than many laminator machines, it’s also more functional than comparable models. For this reason, it’s a terrific buy.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, You can count on this guide to direct you to some of the best lamination machines out there. Also, we have simplified it enough for easy understanding to help you with your pick.
