Thermal Lamination Vs Cold Lamination

The cost per square inch come higher but the best option for quality lamination.

Thermal lamination vs cold lamination.

Each of these laminating styles has unique features that make them ideal for certain laminating jobs. A thermal laminator can in many cases be used for cold laminating as well if the machine has that feature option. A release liner protects the adhesive until it ready to applied typically on a cold roll laminator. Thermal pouches always require a heated pouch laminator to seal.

Cold laminating films typically cost more than hot laminating films but they can be applied using less costly easier to operate non. Laminating pouches are perfect for all around protection for. That said thermal machines are usually a bit more expensive than cold ones simply because they cost more to produce. The laminating film used in cold laminating has a self adhesive that will stick to the document on its own.

However a cold laminator is a better option if you re laminating heat sensitive materials such as vinyl or vintage photographs. However laminators even for the cold process deliver. Both hot and cold laminating is still commonly used today however hot thermal laminating is by far the most popular. Cold laminating films have a more aggressive adhesive that can be applied with pressure instead of heat.

If cold laminating is all you do use self adhesive laminating sheets without a laminating machine. Hot laminators use a heat activated adhesive that is heated as it passes through the laminator. There are two basic forms of thermal laminating. The cold ones can be made by hand without a machine or can be used with any laminator that has a cold setting.

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. You may also prefer a cold laminator if you re going to use the laminator with children. The film is a basic budget product great for black and white prints and or offset printed items in fact any item that is not heat sensitive. 1 hot thermal laminating usually around 120c on a hot roll machine or 140c on a hot shoe machine.

The downside to hot laminators is that some items for example some photographs can not handle the heat required to apply the lamination. Hot lamination is the most common and durable lamination method and is generally preferred over cold lamination. Cold laminating is sometimes used for sensitive documents such as photos. 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 difference in price isn t too great but it is there however you will find that the supplies need for cold lamination are more expensive than what you need for thermal processing. Cold laminating cold laminating is often referred to as pressure. I ll explain the differences between the two.