Regardless of the size of your office, there will always be a need to protect and organize essential documents. Laminating and binding machines help us perform these tasks efficiently and effectively. Especially if management wants to do all its documentation processes in-house, each office needs at least one of these machines. However, there are several factors to consider when selecting either set of machines depending on the type of documents being processed, the frequency of use, and the purpose of the documents. To help you make the right choice when it comes to laminating and binding machines to fit the needs of your office, here are factors to consider and examples for each.
Laminating Machines
One of the most efficient ways to protect critical documents, such as certificates, identification cards, report covers, and unique photos, is to laminate them. Depending on how you seal the plastic around the record, there are two primary types of laminators, hot and cold. Hot laminators use heated rollers to warm up the adhesive that binds the laminate to your documents. On the other hand, cold lamination uses a stronger adhesive that only requires cold rollers to apply pressure to stick the laminate to the paper. Cold rollers are easier to use, don’t require electricity, and won’t have an issue with air pockets; however, they won’t provide a seal that will last as long as those laminated with heat assistance. On the other hand, heat-assisted laminators take some practice to execute flawlessly. However, the latest in GBC, Swingline, and HeatSeal laminators available on our site makes it easy for you to perfect your lamination technique quickly. Each of these laminators featured here also have cold lamination options which will work best with compatible self-adhesive lamination pouches.
There are four points to consider when purchasing laminating machines. These are the document size you frequently laminate, the number of sheets you would like to run per day, the appropriate film thickness for your needs, and the cost.
1.Document Size and Applications:
Consider the size of the documents that you will be laminating. Do you intend to process smaller-size documents with a maximum width that follows the standard paper size? Or do you want to use your laminator for banners? Here are examples of laminators that were designed for specific applications with the dimensions of documents that they can accommodate:
GBC 3-In-1 Thermal Lamination Machine with Trimmer
If you intend to process standard-sized documents for lamination, the GBC 3-in-1 Thermal Lamination Machine with Trimmer can provide good value as it can process documents up to 9″ wide at a feed rate of 13″ per minute. This laminator is specifically designed for home, small offices, or classroom applications. Its compact size makes it ideal for desktop use. The laminating machine comes with ten premium 3 mil EZuse pouches. These laminating machines have positioning guides, a trimmer, and corner rounders for custom lamination. You may also use the laminating machine without heat assistance if you are worried about creating air pockets while using the laminating machine for the first time. It is ideal for laminating photos, ID badges, artwork, and other documents.
GBC Professional HeatSeal H600 Pro Thermal Pouch Laminator, 13″ Max Width, 1.5 – 10 Mil
If you are looking for professional lamination results with a versatile multiple-roller pouch laminator, the H600 Pro Thermal Pouch laminator is perfect for your needs. This laminating machine can handle document sizes up to 13″ wide at a 25″ per minute feed rate. It has four rollers which help ensure that your laminating process is bubble and wrinkle-free for a wide range of applications such as banners, certificates, menus, and multiple ID cards, among others. You may use laminating pouches ranging from 1.5 to 10 mils and mounting boards up to 2mm wide to cover almost all your laminating needs. You may opt to use the laminating machine without heat assistance if you use GBC SelfSeal pouches.
2. Number of Users and Number of Documents Processed Per Day
If you are a business that manufactures laminated documents in scale, then you will opt for large-scale roll laminators. However, for most office applications, modern pouch laminators can handle everyday laminating tasks. If you intend to laminate several documents daily, you must consider the feeder speed. If you only use the laminator twice a week, you can opt for laminating machines with simpler designs and slower feeder speeds.
GBC Fusion 6000L 12″ Laminator, 1 Min Warm-Up, 3-10 Mil
The GBC Fusion 6000L 12″ laminator is built for speed and scale. Perfect for busy offices or any jobs with heavy laminating needs, this laminating machine can process up to 12″ in width documents at a feed rate of 47″ per minute. That means this laminating machine can process 40 documents every 10 minutes. This laminating machine is compatible with 3, 5, 7, and 10 mil pouches making it versatile for a wide range of applications.
GBC Fusion 7000L 12” Laminator. 3-10 Mil
The GBC Fusion 7000L 12″ laminator, on the other hand, can laminate documents of up to 12″ in width at a feed rate of 55″ per minute. That means you can laminate 45 documents in 10 minutes. Moreover, these laminating machines have six smooth rollers to help ensure a smooth and wrinkle-free laminating process. It is compatible with the same range of pouches as the 6000L.
Film Thickness
Lamination film is measured in mil (thousands of an inch). The larger the mil measurement, the thicker the laminate will be. For simple laminating applications such as preserving photos or providing extra protection for report covers, you may require a film thickness between 1.5 and 3 mils. If you need rigid lamination for your documents, such as menu cards or signboards, you may opt for a laminate thickness of up to 10 mils.
HeatSeal H450 Laminator
The HeatSeal H450 Laminator is compatible with any laminating pouches from 1.5 mils to 10 mils, making it perfect for a wide range of lamination needs. With four smooth rollers laminating at a feed rate of 19.25″ per minute, it can help ensure that your laminating process is wrinkle and bubble-free. This laminating machine can process documents of up to 13″ in width, making it one of the most versatile laminating pouch laminating machines available on the market.
3. Cost
A laminating machine is a sound investment for any business needing frequent lamination. However, one of the most important considerations is cost. If you don’t use your laminating machine frequently, you may opt for the most affordable laminating machines available. However, the most affordable laminating machines don’t contain features such as a fast feed rate or multiple smooth rollers, so be prepared to trade some functions for a lower price point.
GBC Fusion 1000L 12” Laminator, 3 Mil
For small offices which require occasional laminating for ID cards, menu cards, or to protect photos, the GBC Fusion 1000L 12″ thermal pouch laminator may fit most of your needs. This laminating machine can process documents of up to 12″ in width making it versatile for its price point.
Swingline Inspire Plus Thermal Pouch Laminator, 3 to 5 Mil
The Swingline Inspire Plus, Thermal Pouch Laminator, is available at $19.00. This affordable laminating machine can process documents of up to 9″ width, which is a perfect fit for letter-size documents and photos. If you want a laminator for a small business with an occasional need for lamination, this laminating machine will provide the best value for you.
Binding Machines
Binding machines are essential to any office. Binding machines help organize documents and files. These machines can also help arrange and secure papers properly. Whether you need to keep your in-house documents in order or prepare professional presentations to send out, binding machines get the task done professionally and efficiently.
Binding machines are organized into several types, depending on the binding methods you need for your documents. Some offices may consider purchasing various binding devices for specific purposes, while some small offices may opt for a compact type with limited functions. TBS Business Solutions offer four binding machines: wire, VeloBind, comb, and coil binding systems.
Punchers
GBC Magnapunch Pro with Foot Pedal or Trigger Switch
Before discussing the different office binding machines, we need to consider making the documents compatible with the different binding systems available on the market. The GBC Magnapunch Pro with Foot Pedal or Trigger Switch can cover all your document punching needs, especially once you purchase the required die sets to make the punched documents compatible with any binding systems. This heavy-duty puncher can process up to 49,000 sheets per hour. Replacing the die sets is easy and anyone in the office can learn how to use this heavy-duty puncher quickly.
1.Comb Binding Machine
A comb binding machine is an affordable binding solution for documents with fewer pages or a small book of up to 100 pages. The comb binding method allows the pages to turn 360 degrees, making photocopying easier. Another advantage of using a comb for binding documents is that pages can be added or subtracted from the bound copies when using a comb opener. Moreover, combs used for binding are commonly available on the market. Comb binding machines require rectangular punching. Fortunately, most office heavy-duty punchers use rectangular punches.
GBC CombBind C800PRO Electric Binding Machine, Binds 500 Sheets, Punches 25 Sheets
The GBC CombBind C800PRO Electric Binding Machine is a perfect investment if your office requires heavy binding. This binding machine is heavy-duty and versatile and can bind documents measuring 12″ in width. It can bind up to 500 sheets at a time. This binding machine comes with a puncher that can process 25 sheets simultaneously.
GBC CombBind C12 Binding Machine
If you want a compact and affordable binder for an office that doesn’t frequently need to bind, the GBC CombBind C12 Manual Binding Machine is an excellent fit. Like its heavy-duty counterpart, it has its puncher. Despite not needing an electrical supply, this strong binder can bind up to 225 sheets.
2.Wire Binding Machine
If your office needs to bind documents that won’t need editing, such as financial and final reports, wire binding is a solution to hold documents properly. Some machines may have their own puncher. This machine uses metal binding wires after making holes on the left side of the paper.
GBC TL2900 Electric WireBind Finisher
The GBC TL2900 Electric WireBind Finisher is one of the most effective ways to wire-bind and crimp documents in one action. This binding machine is easy to use. The user only has to position the left side of the paper on the appropriate feed area to apply the wire and crimp the wire in one action. This wire binding machine has a binding capacity of up to 250 pages.
3.Coil Binding Machine
Recently, coil binding machines have been one of the most popular document binding methods in busy offices. Coil-bound documents can be easily turned 360 degrees allowing for easier photocopying. Coils used for spiral or coil binding machines are readily available and affordable. The machine uses rollers to precisely move the coils into the punched holes on the left side of the document. The machine may or may not have its own crimping mechanism to cut the excess coil material.
GBC CI12 Electric Color Coil Finisher
The heavy-duty GBC CI12 Electric Color Coil Finisher has adjustable rollers to accommodate documents up to 265 pages thick. Its adjustable crimper is located on top of the machine.
GBC CC2700 Electric Color Coil Inserter
A more compact version is the GBC CC2700 Electric Color Coil Inserter which can bind at the same capacity. However, you will need to do crimping manually using a crimping tool kept in a pocket on the right side of the machine.
4.VeloBind System
The binding system that GBC is known for is the VeloBind Systems. These binding systems produce book-quality binds that approach the quality of hard-bound books, making these machines ideal for documents that are meant to be kept permanently. These binding systems use plastic combs which the machine compresses and heats to make the book-quality binding.
GBC VeloBind System Three Pro
The GBC VeloBind System Three Pro is a heavy-duty binding system that can bind up to 750 pages. If your office is a heavy user of documents you need to keep in the file without edits, this VeloBind system is ideal for you. You can utilize these binding systems to share presentations bound in a professional-looking manner.
Final Thoughts
Binding and laminating machines have exploded in popularity since the advent of desktop publishing in the 90s. Despite sharing most information online, these binding and laminating machines are still indispensable for office use. Binding and protecting essential documents and photos is still critical for offices today. Important documents such as final reports, presentations, marketing materials, proposals, and financial statements still need to be printed out, distributed, or filed. TBS Business Solutions USA has a wide range of laminating and binding machines available on our site and in our store. Whether you need heavy-duty binding or laminating machines, TBS Business Solutions has you covered. For more information on the availability of binding and laminating machines, call us at (888) 542-9888, or contact us for any inquiries.