MyBinding Knowledge Base
Who are the best pouch lmainator manufacturers?
Buying a pouch laminator can be an enjoyable process, especially when you’re armed with a lot of information beforehand. If you’ve already researched the virtues of hot lamination over cold, determined what size feed opening you need, and thought about what you need to laminate, you’re probably wondering what else there is to know. How about knowing what companies manufacture these devices? There are five main manufacturers currently operating, ranging from the famous GBC to the lesser-known Akiles, but they also have something great to offer. Here’s some background on these companies, as well as a brief look at some of their products.
- GBC. GBC – also known as General Binding Corporation – is probably a company you’ve heard of before, thanks to the popularity of their plastic comb binding machines. They’ve been in business since 1947 and are thought of as one of the premier laminator manufacturers. GBC makes smaller machines, such as the HeatSeal H100, that are great for use at home and at work. They also make some wonderful business-grade devices including the brand new HeatSeal H212 which offers jam-free operation.
- Fellowes. Fellowes is probably best known for their durable, tough-as-nails paper shredders, but they’ve also branched out into the laminating world. This company has been around since 1917 – a full 30 years more than GBC – and it was originally famed for producing banker boxes. Fellowes makes some attractive, high-quality laminators, such as the Venus VL-125, a device that can be found in offices and print shops across the country. The company recently released the high-performance Voyager VY-125, a product that proves they’re on the cutting edge of lamination.
- Tamerica. The California-based Tamerica has been making professional-grade machines since 1985 and they’re popular not just in the United States, but Latin America as well. All of Tamerica’s products are first-rate and they make personal-sized laminators, as well as larger ones such as the TTC330, a heavy-duty machine that can laminate documents up to 13 inches wide.
- Lamitek. Also located in California, Lamitek is the producer of some really high-quality laminators that have found their way into offices and other workplaces just about everywhere. Their PhotoSmart 13 is perfect for both home and office use, and it will laminate all of your photos flawlessly. And if your company needs a machine that can process posters and other large items, you’re bound to find that their SL-14 fits the bill perfectly.
- Akiles. Akiles is the new kid on the block, having entered the business in as recently as 1993. However, that doesn’t mean their laminators are inferior – far from it. Their product lineup features such great devices as the Pro-Lam Photo, a machine that’s ideal for the lamination of photographs. They also offer the Pro-Lam 100, a smaller device that can beautifully laminate smaller items including ID badges and luggage tags.
In addition to producing great machines, these companies also make their own laminating pouches and they all offer fantastic warranties on their products. When you choose a product from one of these companies, you can be confident you’re buying a first-rate pouch laminator that will really make your documents and photographs stand out.
< Over the years, a number of customers have asked me whether they can use twin loop wire with their plastic comb binding machine. These customers often don’t want to have to buy a brand new machine but like the look and feel of twin loop wire binding. However, the answer to their question isn’t as simple as it seems. You see, they actually do make twin loop wire that is designed to work with the plastic comb binding hole pattern. With that said, if you want to use these wires you are going to need a way to close the wires. What is Spiral-O Wire? Let me explain a little bit more…There is a product that we carry called Spiral-O Wire. This wire has 19 loops and is designed to work with the hole pattern from a plastic comb binding machine. Spiral-O Wire is sometimes called Wire Combs or Ibico Wire and was originally designed for use with some of the older Ibico binding machines. A number of the older Ibico plastic comb binding machines also included a twin loop wire closer on the front of them to allow users to use both plastic combs and wire. This 19 loop wire was designed for this purpose. What Equipment is Needed? As the Ibico brand has been phased out by GBC and all of the older Ibico plastic binding machines have been replaced with new models, they no longer have the twin loop wire closer on the front of them. This presents a problem in trying to use these spiral-o wires since you can’t use the wires without a way to close them. One of the only options left is to purchase a Twin Loop wire closer. However, since twin loop wire closers are not incredibly cheap this option usually only appeals to users who have larger electric plastic comb binding machines. Otherwise, it is often advisable to simply buy a low end 3:1 pitch twin loop wire binding machine (the supplies are cheaper). This being said, if you have one of the older Ibico binding machines that has a wire closer included you are in luck. The Spiral-O binding supplies that we carry will work perfectly with your machine and you will be able to use both plastic combs and wire depending on your needs. These Spiral-O binding supplies are available in Black, Silver, White, Blue and Red and in sizes up to 1″ in diameter. If you aren’t sure what type of wire binding supplies that you need to work with your machine simply give us a call. Our trained sales representatives will be glad to help you find the correct supplies for use with your machine.(Read More)
