Hot Laminators
Hot laminators are probably the ones that you are most familiar with. Hot laminators work by heating an adhesive material and binding it to a surface. This is a very durable method of lamination and it is used in many different offices around the world. One of the major disadvantages of hot lamination is that the temperature of the machine can reach as much as 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Some materials can be damaged at such high temperatures, or colors may appear to fade out due to the high heat. Special protective covers and specific types of lamination pouches can help reduce this effect. Only specific materials should be used with a hot laminator.
Cold Laminators
A cold laminator uses pressure and adhesive to sandwich materials between sheets of plastic film. Cold laminating machines are less expensive than hot laminators because they don’t require a heating apparatus. Many people find a high-quality cold laminator is a superior choice for their business because they are so easy to operate. Items that have a lot of ink coverage often look better when laminated using a cold laminator because colors don’t run.
If you want to laminate larger items such as vehicle wraps and banners, then a cold laminator is a great choice. The pressure used to laminate items comes from rolling items through a set of rollers that creates a lot of pressure, which ensures that items come out with no air bubbles or flaws.