One of the most cost-effective ways to laminate printed materials such as menus, posters, book covers, charts, calendars, and catalogs is to use roll laminating film. Laminating your printed materials improves the product’s aesthetic appeal while also providing protection and durability.
Although a roll laminator will likely be more expensive than a regular pouch laminating machine, it will dependon the volumes being laminated. The cost savings you will realize due to faster production output and lower laminating material costs of laminating film rolls vs. pouches will justify the investment in a roll laminator in the medium to long term.
What is roll laminating film, and how does it work?
Let’s start with the basics: what is roll laminating film? The simplest explanation is laminating film given in roll form rather than pouch form.
It’s fed via roll laminating machines and requires one or two rolls of film – one for the top side and one for the print, or just one roll if you’re laminating one side of the image. The lamination process requires heat and pressure to adhere the thermal plastic lamination film to the print and establish a seal.
Characteristics of Laminating Rolls
There are a few crucial characteristics of laminating film that you should be aware of before purchasing. The required result will be attained if the right laminating film is used for the intended application. If you have any challenges, consult experts from Filter Media Rolls for professional advice.
- The film’s quality
The composition of the film is referred to as the film grade. Either matte or gloss laminating film would suffice for a standard laminating operation. Always double-check that the lamination film you’re using is suitable for your machine and the final result. When laminating a digital print, for example, a regular lamination film will not connect enough with the substrate, necessitating a digital laminating film to achieve correct adhesion.
Our product swatch book or catalog may contain a complete specification on our full line of OPP thermal laminating films and PET thermal laminating films.
- Core Dimensions
The diameter of the core on which the film roll is coiled is referred to as the core size. 25mm, 57mm, and 75mm are the three typical core sizes. The laminating machine frequently determines the core size, the length of the film roll, and the film quality.
- The thickness of the film
The thickness of lamination film is measured in microns and comes in various thicknesses. The thicker the lamination film, the more robust your laminated print will need to be. Menus, for example, would benefit from double-sided lamination with a thicker micron. Still, book covers may benefit from one-sided lamination with a more sumptuous feel and a somewhat thinner micron. It is entirely based on your client’s final goods, usage, and aesthetics requirements.
The bonding strength of the film can also be influenced by its thickness since a thicker film may have a greater adhesive to plastic ratio, allowing for a stronger binding to the printed material.
If you don’t pick the correct laminating film, you risk damaging your machine or getting low-quality laminated prints. So, first and foremost, examine the parameters of your machine and the type of substrate you wish to laminate before selecting a laminating film.
