Why Does A Laminator Have A Cold Setting

Cold laminating films have a more aggressive adhesive that can be applied with pressure instead of heat.

Why does a laminator have a cold setting.

Most cold machines can be operated just by inserting your document into the feed opening and then cranking the handle. Cold lamination is your best option when laminating heat sensitive documents or photos. Hot laminators use a heat activated adhesive that is heated as it passes through the laminator. Cold laminators use a pressure sensitive adhesive that does not need to be heated.

So going with the cold machine could end up costing you a bit more in the long run. At the same time a laminating machine distributes more pressure more evenly. A release liner protects the adhesive until it ready to applied typically on a cold roll laminator. Something you absolutely must think about before getting a laminator is what you plan on laminating.

Technically when using a cold pouch you don t need a machine. You can seal a document with your hand a ruler or credit card. The size of your materials will play a part because you ll need a roll laminator to process large items such as posters. The downside to hot laminators is that some items for example some photographs can not handle the heat required to apply the lamination.

With a hot device you need to usually set speed and temperature settings as well as worry about the thickness of your materials. Most laminators have cold and hot lamination settings to provide maximum flexibility. As a result cold lamination requires specially designed laminating pouches containing sticky adhesive which do not require heat. That s where the cold setting on your machine comes in handy.