Thermal Lamination Vs Cold Lamination

Hot laminators use a heat activated adhesive that is heated as it passes through the laminator.

Thermal lamination vs cold lamination.

You may also prefer a cold laminator if you re going to use the laminator with children. With a cold laminator you don t have to worry about the machine getting too hot. Thermal pouches always require a heated pouch laminator to seal. I ll explain the differences between the two.

Cold laminating films typically cost more than hot laminating films but they can be applied using less costly easier to operate non. However laminators even for the cold process deliver. A release liner protects the adhesive until it ready to applied typically on a cold roll laminator. Both hot and cold laminating is still commonly used today however hot thermal laminating is by far the most popular.

1 hot thermal laminating usually around 120c on a hot roll machine or 140c on a hot shoe machine. Couple of things to consider when buying a pouch laminator is the width hot vs cold laminating the number of rollers pouch laminating thickness and reverse or jam release capabilities. Hot lamination is the most common and durable lamination method and is generally preferred over cold lamination. If cold laminating is all you do use self adhesive laminating sheets without a laminating machine.

Thermal process film adhered to the paper on the basis of heat where cold process works on such as one side with adhesive or glued while laminating. The laminating film used in cold laminating has a self adhesive that will stick to the document on its own. For better lamination product is also the part of quality printing as well as during printing job have to control. The cost per square inch come higher but the best option for quality lamination.

There are two basic forms of thermal laminating. Laminating pouches are perfect for all around protection for. Each of these laminating styles has unique features that make them ideal for certain laminating jobs. However a cold laminator is a better option if you re laminating heat sensitive materials such as vinyl or vintage photographs.

A laminating pouch is used for two sided laminating and comes in either cold pouches or thermal pouches. A thermal laminator can in many cases be used for cold laminating as well if the machine has that feature option. Cold laminating films have a more aggressive adhesive that can be applied with pressure instead of heat. Cold laminating is sometimes used for sensitive documents such as photos.

The downside to hot laminators is that some items for example some photographs can not handle the heat required to apply the lamination. That said thermal machines are usually a bit more expensive than cold ones simply because they cost more to produce. The cold ones can be made by hand without a machine or can be used with any laminator that has a cold setting.