Pro-Lam 38" Wide Format Heated Roll Laminator - PL-238WF

Staff Review

Pro-Lam PL-238WF Roll Laminator Review

If you've been looking for a new roll laminator, one to check out is the Pro-Lam PL-238WF. Here's a review of it so you can learn why it's a must-see device.

• The PL-238WF is ideal for large documents because it has a 38-inch laminating width. This machine can be used to laminate a variety of items including posters, banners, and more.

• This machine warms up pretty quickly. It'll be ready for use about 5 minutes after you turn it on. Once it's ready to go it can process up to 7 feet of material in one minute. The speed and temperature settings are totally adjustable so you have control over the process.

• The PL-238WF does both hot and cold lamination which makes it compatible with thermal and pressure-sensitive film. The film can be made out of a variety of materials (polyester, vinyl, etc.) and it can be up to 10 mil thick. Also, if you're creating visual aids, you can use mounting boards with this device. The materials you use can be up to 0.25" thick.

• Unlike some of the other laminators on the market, the PL-238WF comes with a stand so you won't have to shell out any extra money for one. The stand makes it possible to use thicker rolls of laminating film. Without it, the rolls can only be 6 inches wide. However, with the stand, you can use rolls that are 11" across. This can be very helpful if you work in a high-output environment. Also, this device comes with 3" mandrels.

• The PL-238WF has a lot of great advanced features that help it stand out. These include its gappable rollers, adjustable slitters, and digital temperature display. There are also three cooling fans that will keep the machine in good shape.

• You should be prepared to make space for this machine because it measures 49" (width) x 20" (depth) x 16" (height) without the stand. (With the stand, it's 40" tall.) It's also rather heavy due to its 250-pound weight. This definitely isn't the machine to get if you don't have a lot of extra room in your workspace.

• The PL-238WF's rollers are covered by a three-month warranty while everything else is covered for one-year. The short roller warranty is a bit disappointing.

Final rating: 9. The Pro-Lam PL-238WF is one of the best roll laminators currently available. This is a great machine to have around if you want something that can laminate large documents on both hot and cold settings. It's great that it's compatible with so many different kinds of laminating film and that the rollers can be gapped for mounting boards. The inclusion of a stand makes this machine a must-buy, especially if you don't have room on any of your work surfaces for a roll laminator. It's disappointing that the roller warranty is so short but overall, this is one laminator you can't miss. Be sure to take a look at it so you can see how it can help you out.

Variations:

The PL-238wf 38" Wide format laminator is designed specifically for those looking for a high performance commercial quality laminator at an affordable price. The PL-238wf is a carefully designed and appointed commercial laminating system capable of consistently rendering professional performance and superb finish quality. The PL238 wide format laminator is designed specifically for the intense task of mounting and laminating large or wide format digital output, Utilizing films as thick as 10 mil. The PL-238wf laminates polyester, nylon, polypropylene, vinyl, and plastic films . The PL-238wf includes a stand, and 3" mandrels. This machine is available as a 120 volt model, If a 120 volt wide format laminator is needed the it is available by special order. Accessories such as slitters, extra slitter heads, stand wheels, liner take-up winder and extra mandrels are available to meet the special needs of some customers.

Warm Up Time:

The warm up time of a laminator is indicative of its ability to replace heat in the laminating cycle. Laminate and the material being laminated draws heat away from the rollers. A fast warm up time equates to higher and more predictable performance levels. Rapid and accurate thermal response and controllability is necessary for the best possible finish and maximum yield. It also makes the operators job much easier. The PL238 is capable of maintaining a temperature range of just a couple of degrees from set point. Few if any machines in or even near the price range of the PL-238wf are capable of coming close to this temperature accuracy. Having to guess what an unstable temperature control system is going to do next is extremely difficult to predict, resulting in a poor quality finished product due to over and under heating. Most laminators in this category take at least 15 minutes to warm up, some even longer. This is one of the reasons why it is so difficult to find the rated warm-up time for competitive models actually published, we publish this with pride In fact we know of no other laminator in any class that comes close to our exclusive heated roll technology A lengthy warm up time often results in machines being energized all day long. When left on for extended periods, not only is the laminator trying to heat the room, the air conditioning system is trying to cool it. Running a heater and an air conditioner simultaneously doesn't make a lot of sense.

Film Capabilities:

The PL-238wf is a 38" wide format laminator capable of laminating films less than 1 mil thick thru 10 mils. This laminator can laminate both thermal and pressure sensitive films (cold). This wide format laminator as well as all PLS laminators are capable of laminating polyester, polypropylene, nylon, vinyl, and even less common materials. Many laminating professionals and even some laminating film manufacturers have a common comment; "If it can't be laminated on a PLS machine, it can't be laminated." There are three laminating processes. Two-sided (encapsulation), one-side laminating, and mounting and/or laminating. All Pro-Lam machines are capable of doing these processes with equal perfection. In addition to this these machines are often utilized in, what some think of as unusual applications such as masking, cold lamination, and multiple simultaneous laminations. Our machines are the most accommodating in their ability to laminate a myriad of substrates using a seemingly endless array of films, however, some substrates have a coating that renders lamination either difficult or impossible. For these difficult applications we will be happy to help you find solutions to your lamination needs.

Thermal Response:

Considering thermal response characteristics, Pro-Lam heated roll laminators are possibly the fastest laminators in existence. This makes these laminators incomparable to others near and beyond the price range.

Motor Control:

Every Pro-Lam Laminator is equipped with an American made, high torque DC gear reduction motor and an infinitely variable solid state motor controller, both of which are heat sinked, air cooled, and feature electronic reverse. The drive train includes hardened steel gears, sprockets and drive chain. This robust industrial configuration is common to all Pro-Lam laminators. They do not utilize plastic drive components, cheap AC motors , or integrated electronics.

Laminate--Mount--Encapsulate:

The PL-238 Laminator is particularly suited for simultaneous mounting and laminating, on a myriad of substrates utilizing heat activated adhesives or encapsulating wide format digital output. This 38" wide format laminator is capable of laminating and mounting on one side or two using 1 mil through 10 mil films on materials up to 1/4" thick. Because of the unique thermal response of our laminating rollers all PLS laminators are perfectly suited for mounting or laminating, short runs or long. This unique and capable thermal response is only one of the features that set this 38" wide format laminator apart from the rest that use heated rollers. Many other heated roll laminators and heat shoe laminators utilize antiquated technology that "runs out" of heat after a few turns of the rollers, sometimes only a couple of feet, rendering successful lamination impossible. Due to the great amount of heat required for simultaneous mounting and laminating on foam board and heat activated foam board these thermal capabilities are absolutely essential. Technically, when using a heat shoe laminator to mount to foam board it is necessary for the laminating film to "carry" the heat to the board. This process, as well as all laminating processes, follows simple thermodynamic laws. It will take the same amount of btu's to laminate any given project regardless of the laminator used (some just waste more btu's). Since the heat source of a heat shoe laminator (heat shoes) does not actually contact the board, the operator must intentionally severely overheat the film so that the film can carry the enormous amount of heat that is required for a successful lamination of the board at the nip rollers. The thinner the film the hotter and more difficult or impossible the process will be.

Value:

Professional Laminating Systems Inc. manufactures some of the finest laminating machinery in the world. The PL-238wf, like all Pro-Lam machines, is composed of a unique combination of exclusive design, innovative patented technology, state of the art manufacturing techniques and high quality components. These features and others combine to make PLS Laminators and related equipment the best value on the market today.

Film Capacity:

The film roll capacity of the Pro-Lam laminators is often described as "huge". The standard roll diameter is about 11" on a laminator with slitters and stand. Without slitters, the capacity is approximately 12". Lower mandrel capacity is 22" when used with a stand. When a laminator is sold as a table top model (without stand) its film capacity is about 6", due to the placement of the lower film roll under the feed table. If only one sided lamination is desired the upper position of a table top model is 11" dia. roll of film . Keep in mind when ordering film that a large film roll may weigh a considerable amount.

Temperature Control:

Every Pro-Lam laminator features a digital display, a solid-state temperature control, and solid state relay that is isolated, heat sinked and air cooled. In conjunction with a temperature sensor that is located just below the surface of our laminating rollers these components are capable of a temperature hysteresis within several degrees. Don't let the simplicity of the control knob on our machines fool you. We use an analog input for our digital temperature control interface, this provides even casual operators a certain "feel" that is often associated with their stove at home. The truth is, the operation is just that simple. The digital display indicates the temperature of the laminating surface. This provides important feedback to the operator and is accurate to within 1 degree.

Cooling:

Laminating film cooling on the PL-238wf wide format laminator is achieved with three high performance 110 cfm axial fans. Cooling fans allow higher process speeds and provide for a better laminate finish. These four cooling fans provide adequate cooling for even the most difficult jobs. The PL-238wf and other Series II Laminators provide cooling for all critical electronic components utilizing these cooling fans. This practice is common in all high quality industrial equipment designs.

Mandrels:

The Pl-238wf Laminator is supplied with 3" mandrels. Other mandrel sizes are available by special order only. PLS inc. strongly recommends 3" mandrels Keep in mind the film roll capacity of this laminator is about 11" this would weigh a considerable amount and will require 2 people to lift it.