Pro-Lam 230 9" Laminator by Akiles

The Pro-Lam 230 has a feed opening that's 9.1 inches wide. This is perfect for letter-sized documents (8.5" x 11") as well as smaller items such as business cards, name badges, and so on.

Like the other laminators Akiles produces, this one does the job in a short amount of time. It can laminate 0.4" of material per second which works out to 24" in just one minute. Thus, you'll be able to laminate a letter-sized item in about 30 seconds.

Everything you laminate with this device will look great because it contains four silicon rollers that evenly distribute heat without marring your item. This is a great machine to use if you want professional-looking results.

This is a laminator that is very well-constructed. It has a lot of metal parts that can stand up to a lot of use so you can be sure this machine will work for you for a long time. (Even the gears are made of steel, so obviously Akiles put a lot of thought into creating this device.)

The Pro-Lam 230 is reasonably compact. It measures 17.6" (width) x 10.9" (depth) x 4.06" (height) so you can place it on a desk or table and still have room in which to work on other projects.

The motor in this device is designed to work hard and continuously and not overheat. You can even leave the machine on standby for an extended period of time and the motor will be fine.

It is possible to use the Pro-Lam 230 without a carrier, except when you're working with 10 mil pouches. Not using one can save you a tiny bit of time during the laminating process.

This machine is reasonably priced especially considering how well-made it is. Plus, it comes with a one-year warranty so you can get it repaired (or replaced) if the unexpected happens.

The Pro-Lam 230's main weakness is that it can only do hot lamination. (It operates at temperatures ranging from 230 to 356 degrees). Thus, if you plan on working with a lot of heat-sensitive materials (i.e. photographs), you should either choose a different device or have a cold process machine handy.

The utilitarian appearance of this machine could be a bit off-putting. If you desire a laminator that's a bit more stylish, there are some devices from GBC and Fellowes that look great.