Lamination is a good way to keep your documents and photos safe for years to come. A special film will be an excellent protector for the paper base, protecting it from dust, dirt, water and even sunlight (partially).
Let's consider one of the most popular and versatile equipment for this procedure - an A4 laminator. The article will help beginners navigate the choice of a device, as well as introduce the basic principles of operation of such equipment.
The lamination procedure is quite simple and does not require any specific knowledge in this area. All you need is the A4 device itself and an A4 laminator film (package). Next, consider some of the features of this equipment.
Goals
If you are not the owner of a printing house and will use the laminator from time to time to process a small number of documents, then it makes sense to look at inexpensive models that are designed for home use or as a modest help in a small office.
A simple A4 laminator has the most simplified design, and the film at the exit protects the document to a minimum. Its thickness formodest devices fluctuates around 80 microns. The film in this case will well protect the document from dust, moisture and other small contaminants, but, alas, only the smallest part from mechanical impact. That is, such equipment is suitable for cases - laminated and put in a folder / on a shelf.
Moreover, if you have enough protection at 80 microns, but the intensity of work in the office just rolls over, then buying a simple A4 laminator also does not make sense. It will burn out or simply crumble in a week or two, because it is simply not designed for such serious loads.
If you want to process dozens of documents every day, a high-performance office A4 laminator is your best bet. Models of this kind are not only equipped with a reinforced design, but can also process a significantly larger number of documents. In addition, sensible models can use a film of different thicknesses.
Film
As mentioned above, the standard A4 laminator can work with regular film at 80 microns and bags up to 125 microns. The latter provide not only basic document protection, but also perfectly protect the sheet from mechanical damage.
The most advanced and expensive models of laminators can pack originals in film up to 250 microns. This protection completely eliminates the ingress of moisture and prevents document jams, as well as the appearance of scratches on it. This option is the most reliable, but such a film is very demanding on the design of the device, that is, on ityou need a very good laminator that correctly cools the pack at the end of the cycle.
For some non-standard tasks, you can find a film with perforation for filing in folders, adhesive on one side, multi-colored, etc.
Device functionality
Most office laminators work, as they say, as they should. That is, they process the originals randomly - first 250 microns, then 80, then 100, and then again 80. Some models are simply not able to quickly switch between films and they need time (about 20-30 minutes).
In order to avoid such unnecessary delays, manufacturers are developing and implementing some technological "chips" in their products, which significantly save not only time, but also equipment resources.
For example, the Fellowes brand has patented a very useful AutoSense technology, solving the above problem. The principle of operation of the new functionality is quite simple and at the same time effective. The device automatically selects the optimal mode of operation due to optical sensors that determine the thickness of the inserted film. That is, the user just needs to place the document in a bag and put it in the laminator receiver, and the device will do the rest. In this case, the operator does not need to wait for the machine to cool down after the 250 µm film, but immediately start laminating, for example, a 100 µm bag, which is very convenient. Keep this point in mind before choosing an A4 laminator.
Models
The world market for printing equipment is dominated by the venerable Xerox and Canon. Yes, themthe equipment is almost flawless, and the long-term reputation inspires respect. But despite the abundance of service centers around the world, and in Russia in particular, servicing devices costs a tidy sum, as well as buying them.
The very successful company Fellowes has been working on the domestic market for a long time (since 1994), which, as they say, ate the dog on laminators. The price tags for the brand's devices are quite democratic, as well as the maintenance of their own equipment. The company's products can be called omnivorous and picky about third-party consumables, which is a significant plus for the domestic consumer.
Let's try to designate a small rating of A4 laminators of this brand, it includes the most remarkable models in terms of reliability, versatility, and also distinguished not only by high-quality output prints, but also by a good price / return ratio.
Best devices:
- Callisto A4.
- Saturn 3i A4.
- Lunar A4.
Lunar A4
This is an entry-level device for a modest or home office. If you use a laminator from time to time, then the Lunar model is the best and inexpensive option. The device works with film from any manufacturer, but not thicker than 80 microns (30 cm/min).
Management is extremely simple and intuitive. A green diode will notify you that the device is ready for operation (6 minutes after switching on). The design has a collapsible type, so in case of an original jamyou can easily take it out. The body is made of high quality material and does not heat up during operation.
If you need to process business cards, photographs, certificates, postcards, instructions and other similar sources, then Lunar is the ideal laminator (A4) for such documents. User reviews of the model are mostly positive. The owners appreciated the unpretentiousness of the device, high-quality prints at the output and a completely affordable price tag.
Price - about 3,000 rubles.
Saturn 3i A4
Saturn is the latest generation laminator, featuring a fast warm-up time (just under one minute) before starting work. The model has an attractive appearance and can handle packets up to 125 µm (30 cm/min).
The device has three modes for cold and hot lamination. The body of the device does not heat up during operation and is completely safe to touch. The presence of sensors will eliminate the complete jam of the original, and the collapsible design will help to remove the document. The model is perfect for the average office and copes well with most complex tasks.
Users in their reviews very warmly received this "average", which is relatively inexpensive and has attractive features.
Price - about 9,000 rubles.
Callisto A4
The model is designed for regular use and works with film up to 125 microns (up to 40 cm/min). The functionality of the device includes several modes for cold and hot work, as well as technologyAutoSense, which eliminates the waiting time after changing the film.
The reverse function allows you to remove the original in the event of a jam or misfeed. The case does not heat up at all and is absolutely safe to touch. The device is suitable for the most complex tasks in the field of lamination, and numerous positive reviews on specialized forums have made the model very popular with medium and large offices.
Price - about 13,000 rubles.
