What is a Pouch Laminator and How Does it Work?

If you are looking to buy a pouch laminator, you may feel a little overwhelmed by the names, numbers, and terms you are running into as you shop. Let’s go over the basics so you can make an informed choice and get the best laminator for you. For an overview of all laminators check out our general laminating guide and then come back for the pouch specifics.

What is a Pouch Laminator?

Pouch laminators apply heat and/or pressure to folded sheets of plastic called laminating pouches. These pouches are lined with a special adhesive that, when heat or pressure is applied, bonds the two sides together. This essentially encases any document that has been placed inside (business cards, ID badges, instruction sheets, etc.) in a clear plastic that both enhances the document’s colors and protects it from everyday wear and tear.

Pouch laminators come in all sorts of sizes with a wide range of capabilities. You can find pouch laminating machines that cost anywhere from $20 to $2000.

What are Laminating Pouches?

Laminating pouches are precut pieces of laminating film that are folded in half so you can easily insert your page inside. They come in different thicknesses, from 3 mil to 10 mil. A mil is equal to 1/1000 of an inch, and the thicker the mil, the more rigid the final product will be. A piece of normal paper that has been laminated with a 3 mil pouch can be easily bent, while one that has been encased with a 10 mil pouch will bend very little if at all. Different laminators will be able to accept different mils. Some can accept the full range while others may only accept 3 or 5mil pouches. If you need help choosing a laminating pouch for your needs, we guide you through the details here.

How Does Pouch Laminating Work?

To laminate a document with a pouch laminator, you simply place the sheet inside a pouch, and place the pouch inside a carrier (a card-stock-like folder that comes with your pouches) if you are able. Then, you simply run it through the machine.

Pouch laminators use a series of rollers (little wheels made of hard rubber) to move the document through the machine. Lower-end machines will have as few as two rollers while better machines may have as many as six. Rollers help to keep your lamination from bubbling or wrinkling so the more you have the better your finished product probably will look.

Once the document comes out on the other side, you may have to trim the edges to get the look you are after. Simply wait until the document has cooled a little bit to keep from marring the surface of the laminate.

The higher the quality of the laminator the more settings you will be able to adjust. The most basic machines may have nothing more than an on and off switch. Higher-end machines will have controls for speed and temperature, which can be very handy if you are using thicker laminating pouches regularly. All you need to do is refer to your machine's manual for the best settings for the pouch you are using.

Laminators also come in various widths. You will want to find a machine that is wide enough to do the jobs that you intend for it to do. A nine-inch laminator may be perfect for laminating documents and photos but you will want to size up if you want to laminate anything larger.

What Should I Look for in a Pouch Laminating Machine?

• An adequate feed opening. The first thing to take a look at is the machine’s feed opening. How wide is it? Will it accommodate your documents? Laminators have feed openings that measure as little as 4.5 inches or as much as 19 inches. If you’re going to be working with larger items (i.e. maps, menus), you’ll need a machine with a large enough feed opening. Likewise, if you just need to laminate business cards and I.D. tags, a machine with a 4.5-inch throat would be perfect.

• The ability to accept a variety of pouches. Most laminators, even the lower-end ones, can accommodate 3 and 5 mil pouches. If you want to use the thicker supplies, you’ll probably have to splurge on a more expensive device.

• Hot and cold settings. Most of the inexpensive laminators will only offer hot settings. However, if you want to laminate items such as photographs, ink-jet printouts, and color copies, look for a device that has a cold setting. These items can be damaged by heat and running them through a heated cycle may be disastrous. Choosing a machine with hot and cold settings will allow you to opt for gentle lamination when you need it.

• How easy it is to use. Many of the entry-level laminators are extremely easy to use. Often they have a knob you can turn to select a preset temperature/speed setting. (Note: there may also be a switch or buttons.) If you’re feeling adventurous or want total control over your laminating experience, you can choose a machine with an LED display and controls that allow you to fine-tune the heat and speed settings. Get the device you feel you will be the most comfortable with.

• A good brand name, fair price, and helpful warranty. Finally, choose a machine from a brand name you can trust. If you aren’t familiar with laminator brands don’t worry we compiled a list of our favorites for you. These manufacturers are famous in the document finishing world because they make very high-quality products. Most of their machines come with great warranties so you’re covered in case your new device gives you any grief. Also, make sure you buy the best machine you can afford. Buying the cheapest device usually means you’ll be replacing it rather quickly. Spending a little extra cash is usually worth it so you can get a better device.

Glossary: What do the Different Pouch Laminator Terms Mean?

• Carrier. A carrier prevents excess laminate from getting all over your machine. It’s essentially a folded piece of coated paper you place your document in before laminating it. A carrier has a slick interior so it won’t get totally gummed up from excess laminate.
• Cold Lamination. Lamination that is done without heat. Cold Lamination is ideal for preserving heat-sensitive documents and photographs. Not all machines are capable of cold lamination, so if you need this feature, make sure to look for it.
• Hot Lamination. Lamination that’s done with heat. The heat activates the glue in a standard laminating sheath so your document can be encased in plastic and thus preserved.
• Matte Pouches. These supplies have a matte exterior as opposed to a glossy one. Due to the surface’s somewhat granular texture, it can be written on with a variety of writing instruments.
• Mil. A mil refers to a thousandth of an inch, as well as how thick a pouch is. Common sizes are 3, 5, 7, and 10 mil. The higher the number, the better protected your document will be because it will be more rigid.
• Mounting Board. A board that can be run through your machine so as to join a document to a sturdy backing. These are typically used for art showings, point-of-purchase displays, and so on.
• Pouch. The plastic sheath you place your document in for lamination. These supplies are available in a variety of sizes so you can laminate small items such as business cards and larger ones including menus and posters.
• Pouch Laminator. A machine that laminates items sheathed in plastic. Using one of these devices often entails using a carrier.
• Reverse Mode. A mode found on most high-quality laminators. It comes in handy if your document ends up getting jammed in the machine.
• Self-Sealing Pouches. Supplies that don’t need to be heated up to laminate your item. Typically used during cold lamination. They can also be used manually.
• Sticky Back Pouches. These items have a sticky back so you can adhere your document to a surface.
• Throat. The feed opening on a laminator. Throats typically range from about 4 to 13 inches wide.
• UV/UL Pouches. These supplies will protect your document from the elements, including the sun’s rays. They’re good to use if you’re creating signs, banners, etc. that will be placed outdoors.