The Do's and Don'ts of Lamination

Lamination is often done to optimally protect a document against moisture, dirt and wear. When you use the right laminator, it is very easy to provide the document with a laminating layer.

Various laminators are available with different laminating techniques. All are available whether it's thermal laminating, single-sided laminating or laminating with pouches. In this blog we have listed a number of important tips and advice for an optimal laminating result. These are the most important do's and don'ts of laminating:

The do's

1. Wait for the correct temperature: Patience is a virtue. Always wait until the unit is fully heated before starting laminating. How long this takes depends on the laminator you are using. Usually the manual indicates how long the heating time is.
2. Use quality laminating pouches: Always choose quality laminating pouches from reliable brands. These are made according to the highest quality standards and therefore deliver a better end result.

3. Select the correct settings: In addition to using the better laminating pouches, it is also important to choose the right settings when laminating. Consult the manual beforehand and choose the settings that best suit the laminating job. Also pay attention to the thickness of the laminating film, sleeve and the temperature that suits it best.

4. Always insert the closed side of the pouch first: When laminating, always insert the closed / pre-sealed side of the laminating pouch into the machine first. This prevents the sleeve from being skewed when feeding and a skewed laminating result.

5. Lamination Film is often used to protect important documents and keep them beautiful. When laminating an important document, we recommend that you first laminate a trial version with a sheet of the same paper thickness. If the result is not desired or if a setting is not yet right, you will find out in time. This will prevent you from damaging or losing the important document.

6. Allow the laminated document to cool: Have you laminated a document? Always let it cool down on a flat surface. This ensures that the document dries neatly. Do you plan to trim or trim the document after laminating? Always wait until it has cooled down completely.

The don'ts

1. Do not laminate empty pouches: Do not put empty pouches in the machine. If you want to test, laminate a sheet of paper with the same paper thickness as the document you will be laminating next.

2. Do not use damaged, wrinkled, or torn covers: Laminating sleeves that are not neatly intact will also not produce a nice end result. Better to avoid covers that are visibly damaged, wrinkled, folded, or torn.

4. Do not leave the laminated document in the machine: Leaving the laminated document for too long after laminating can cause the end of the cover to burn, melt, or become wavy. Take it straight from the device after laminating.
5. Do not use cold laminating pouches in hot laminating machines: Cold laminating pouches use a different method to neatly laminate the document. This method is not suitable for hot Lamination Film. Pay attention to this when purchasing laminating sleeves.

Find a laminator and supplies

With these tips and advice you are ready to laminate carefully and enjoy your laminator for as long as possible. All you need is to find a right supplier of lamination film and a quality laminator for your laminating work.