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.
With the typical heated roller the thermal conductivity of the roller cannot 'keep up' with the high demands of laminating and mounting to foam board, you will simply run out of heat. Sure it is possible for the operator to saturate the rollers with excessive high heat or run the machine extremely slow and then you might make a successful lamination but it will probably look like this is what you did.
With a PLS laminator the heat available is instantaneous and sure, the machine simply heats the film to the required temperature, the substrate is inserted in the nip and is heated in the nip through direct contact of the heatsource, film, and substrate. We are not going to lie to you, the process is slower than simply laminating however, it is successful, and your last lamination will be as perfect as your first.
Due to the novel placement of our heaters the heat that is available when lamination begins is the heat that is available when it ends Our Revolution Series Rollers are not only designed to produce consistent and perfect thermal output they actually get "used to" the project that they are working on.
"Don't expect our exclusive Revolution Series Rollers to run out of heat before you run out of work."
