A laminating machine seals a page between two layers of clear plastic film so it can be wiped, handled and pinned up for years. Schools laminate charts and flash cards, offices laminate notices, menus and ID cards, and clinics laminate instructions that get wiped down every day. The choice comes down to the size, the pouch thickness it handles and how much you laminate. Tell us what you need and we pass your request to independent office equipment suppliers near you, who quote you directly.
Pouch or roll laminator
A pouch laminator takes a clear pouch, sealed on one edge, with the page inside. It heats the pouch and rollers press it flat. Pouch machines suit most offices and schools, and come in A4 and A3 widths. An A3 machine also laminates A4 and smaller cards, so many schools buy A3. A roll laminator feeds film from two rolls and suits high volumes, long posters and copy rooms that laminate all day.
Pouch thickness in microns
Pouches are sold by thickness in microns, for example 80, 125 or 250 micron. Thinner pouches give a flexible finish for notices and menus. Thicker pouches give a stiff finish for ID cards, flash cards and signs that get handled a lot. Check the thickest pouch the machine accepts, because a cheap machine may only take the thinner ones. Pouches are the running cost, so ask the supplier to quote for a box or two of the sizes you use most.
- Notices, price lists and menus
- Classroom charts and flash cards
- ID and membership cards
- Instructions in clinics and kitchens
Warm up time, speed and jams
Small machines can take several minutes to warm up, which matters in a busy school office. Ask for the warm up time and the speed. More rollers usually give a flatter, clearer result. Feed the sealed edge first, keep pouches straight, and never feed an empty pouch, which can wrap round the rollers. Many machines have a reverse button to back out a jam. Laminate printed pages only once the toner or ink is fully dry.
For schools, offices and copy rooms
Schools often keep an A3 laminator in the staff room beside the copier. Offices that laminate now and then may do well with a small A4 machine, or send big jobs to a copy shop. Copy rooms that also bind reports may want a binding machine on the same order. For the pages themselves, see our page on photocopy paper.
Pouches cost less per sheet in bulk boxes, and a spare box in the cupboard saves a rush before an open day or a sports day. Switch the machine off after use, let it cool, and clean the rollers as the maker's manual describes, because glue left on the rollers marks the next pouch. Keep it on a steady table with space in front for the sheet to come out.
What to put in your request
- A4 or A3, or a roll laminator
- How often and how much you laminate
- The pouch thickness you need
- How many boxes of pouches to include
- Delivery address and any deadline
Laminating Machines for offices, schools and home offices
- Home offices: a small A4 laminator for a tutor's worksheets, recipe cards and the odd notice
- Small businesses and shops: laminated price lists, menus and notices that can be wiped down daily
- Corporate and head offices: an A3 laminator in the copy room for safety notices and floor plans
- Schools, colleges and universities: an A3 laminator in the staff room for charts, flash cards and timetables
- Medical practices, clinics and hospitals: laminated instructions and charts in consulting rooms that are cleaned daily
- Law firms, accountants and agents: laminated plans and site notices for architects and estate agents
- Government and municipalities: laminated notices and service point charts for public offices
- Factories, mines and warehouses: thick laminated safety cards and work instructions for factory floors
- Churches, NGOs and community groups: laminated song sheets and notices that last through many services
Frequently asked questions
Should I buy an A4 or an A3 laminating machine?
What pouch thickness should I use?
Why does my laminator leave bubbles or a cloudy finish?
Do you sell laminating machines yourselves?
Laminating Machines by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg