Do you need a roll laminator for your school? It’s no secret that the 25-27″ width is the most ideal size for multi-purpose laminating in schools. With so many roll laminators to choose from, which model should you get?

One of the main reasons the 25-27″ length is so ideal is because it can be used to laminate maps, posters and other wide material. It can also be used to laminate several smaller documents at once, including three 8 ½” x 11″ documents at a time.

We have several roll laminators that have been designed from the ground up to be used in a school environments. These laminators have been designed to handle the daily rigors of school use, while still remaining affordable. Without further ado, here is our list.

Top 5 Best Roll Laminators For Schools (25″ to 27″)

1. Ledco Educator 25″ School Roll Laminator
2. Banner American Easy-Lam School Budget Laminator
3. Banner American Easy-Lam 27″ Roll Laminator
4. Ledco Professor 27″ Hot Roll Laminator
5. Banner American Easy-Lam II 27″ Roll Laminator

I have used most of these laminators myself and can vouch for their reliability. These laminators are used in schools around the United States and have proven themselves time and time again.

You can find our entire selection of roll laminators here. Do you need more advice or have additional questions about roll laminators? Call one of our experts at 1-800-658-8788.

Whether you need to laminate a map or a poster, you’re probably going to need a roll laminator. If your laminating jobs fall within a 27″ width, you may want to consider using the Banner American MightyLam 2700 roll laminator. I have had several opportunities to use this machine and this is my review.

Banner American manufactures a wide variety of laminators, including both pouch and roll laminators. While the Banner American line of EasyLam roll laminators are a huge hit with our customers, they are better suited for low-volume use. A great upgrade from the EasyLam is the MightyLam, which is great for medium-volume laminating.

The MightyLam 2700 is a 27″ wide roll laminator that uses 1″ core laminating rolls. It is designed to be used throughout the day and is capable of handling laminating film up to 10 mils thick, which is pretty impressive for a roll laminator in this price range. It can even be used to mount and laminate material up to ¼” thick.

You can see the recommended temperature settings for the mil thickness in this diagram.

One thing I really like about the MightyLam is that it is a fairly open and easy-to-access laminator. This is a huge benefit when it comes to removing old rolls and feeding new film through the machine. Film changes are very easy on the MightyLam 2700.

The control panel on the MightyLam 2700 is very easy to operate. The left side of the machine features a couple of digital displays that give you the temperature and a small dial on the left allows you to adjust the temperature.

The right side of the machine features a “ready” light, a temperature switch, a motor switch and a fan switch. I personally like to have all the switches separated like this as it gives the operator more control and saves energy. Unlike many comparable laminators, the motor doesn’t have to be running while the laminator warms up.

The MightyLam 2700 uses heat shoes to heat up the laminating film. These shoes can get very hot, so a safety shield has been put in place. While most modern laminators feature safety shields, the shield on the MightyLam 2700 fully encompasses the hottest components.

A feed tray, located on the front of the machine, provides ample support for wide documents being fed in. A side guide makes it possible to properly align material and is ideal for repeated laminating jobs.

You can get the MightyLam 2700 in a 120 or a 240 volt version, depending on where you are at and your building’s power requirements. It weighs 200 pounds shipped, so be sure you have a workstation capable of supporting this weight.

Overall I really like the MightyLam 2700. It is a customer favorite and I consider it to be a solid laminator for medium-volume jobs.

You can find the Banner American MightyLam 2700 roll laminator here and our entire selection of thermal roll laminators here. Do you have questions or need service on your roll laminator? Call us at 1-800-658-8788.

I had a customer ask me a very interesting question today. They wanted to know if they could use roll laminating film with pouch laminators. Believe it or not, I have had this question asked several times over the pas several years. Per square foot, roll laminating film sometimes costs less than pouch laminating film. Here’s the answer I gave my customer.

To begin with, roll and pouch thermal laminating film are essentially made out of the same material. The finished results are the same, the mil thickness is the same and temperature requirements are about the same. This means that you can use roll laminating film in a pouch laminator, but there is a catch.

To begin with, you will have to unroll the roll laminating film, use scissors and create your own top and bottom layer of film. You will then need to try and keep the film in place while it runs through the laminator. A skilled operator may be able to do this without any issues, but many people will get frustrated.

Another customer asked me if they could take the roll film and cut out a square, fold it in half and make their own laminating pouch. Again, you can do this, but the seam where the laminating film is folded over may get wrinkled or laminated incorrectly.

You’ll notice on pouch laminating film that there is a seam on one side of the film. This is because during manufacturing, the factory takes two separate layers of film and seals them together on one side. This allows the film to turn out well every time.

In summary, I still highly recommend using laminating pouches with pouch laminators. There is far less hassle, the time needed to get the job done is far less and in all honesty laminating pouches don’t cost very much.

You can find our entire selection of pouch laminating film here and roll laminating film here. In case you’re in the market, you can find our entire selection of pouch laminators here.

If you own a roll laminator, you probably understand that proper maintenance and care are required to keep things running smoothly. No matter how hard you try, accidents may happen. One of the worst accidents that can occur with a roll laminator is overheating and baked laminating film.

Baked laminating film typically occurs when a roll laminator is left unattended for too long or the temperature is turned up too high. I can remember several years ago we used a Banner American Easy Lam II and someone turned the temperature up WAY too high. About 10-15 minutes later we all noticed a pungent, strong smell of burning plastic.

Upon entering the showroom, it looked like the laminator was on fire. It looked like an indoor laminator BBQ. There was literally smoke coming out the top of it. We quickly unplugged it and wheeled it outside the building. After an hour or so, we brought it back in. At that point the damage was clear. There was baked, charred and burnt laminating film all over the heating boots and rollers.

At first I thought the laminator was a complete loss. I figured there was nothing that could  done. Our talented Service Technician was able to breathe some life back into it and clean it up to a point that it was completely usable again. Here are some tips on cleaning up and fixing your fried roll laminator.

Removing Film - To begin with, do not use a knife or scissors to remove the burnt film. This WILL cause damage to the Teflon coated boots and the silicon rollers. If this happens rollers and boots will have to be physically removed and replaced.

One way to remove burnt film is to actually turn the laminator back on, but to a barely warm state. Basically turn the laminator on as low as it goes, or even let it be on for just a minute or two. This will help warm up glue and make it easier to peel off. Be careful when doing this though. You don’t want to burn yourself.

Cleaning Burnt Glue – Once the film has been removed, it is very important to remove the cooked glue. This must be done to renew proper operation. There are a few ways to do this.

Our Service Technician says she prefers to use Martin Yale’s roller cleaner and rejuvenator. This helps break down the glue and makes it easier to clean. This is her number one tip. You can find our roller cleaner rejuvenator here.

Another tip is to use our laminator cleaning kit. These kits include Xenit foaming cleaner and other tools to help clean up rollers and Teflon boots. You can find our laminator cleaning kits here.

Try not to use rubbing alcohol to clean the silicon rollers. While rubbing alcohol can be used to break up glue and clean the Teflon boots, the alcohol can potentially cause the rubber rollers to dry out and crack, rendering them useless.

Once most of the glue has been cleaned, a non-abrasive cleaning pad, like a Scotch-Brite green pad, can be used to clean up excess glue and charred material. The pad needs to be non-abrasive though, or it can potentially damage the Teflon coating on the boots.

These are just a few tips. If you are still unable to clean your laminator, or are having other technical issues, feel free to call our Service Technician at 1-800-658-8788 x129. If you need a replacement laminator, you can find our entire selection of roll laminators here and roll laminating film here.

Good luck!

Do you need a wide-format roll laminator, but don’t have the budget to afford what’s available? There is an affordable roll laminator in the 40″ range that you may want to consider. This is the SircleLam EM-40 40″ roll laminator. This is my review.

To begin with, you’ll be hard pressed to find a 40″ roll laminator within this price range. This laminator is priced around what many 27″ roll laminators cost. Normally I would think that this meant the EM-40 must be really stripped down, but not so. The EM-40 actually has a lot of very nice features.

Most scaled down roll laminators aren’t capable of handling film thicker than 3, perhaps 5 mils. The SircleLam EM-40 can handle laminating film up to 10 mils thick, which is the thickest we offer. This is really nice for people who are laminating banners, signs and other large material.

Another nice high-end feature is that the SircleLam EM-40 has a total of 4 rollers. This means that the film is given more pressure, heat is more evenly applied and the end results are clearer, cleaner and more professional.

The motor runs at a speed of 10 feet per minute. This isn’t going to win any races, but it is by no means slow. I have seen some high-end commercial laminators run at up to 25 feet per minute, but most run at about this speed. This means you should be able to laminate 600 feet of material in an hour. Few people need more capacity than this.

You will need to make sure you have a workbench, table or countertop that can support this laminator. While it isn’t as much as a car, it does weigh in at 230 pounds shipped. You will also need to make sure you have enough workspace for this laminator. It measures in at 48″W x 20″D x 16″H.

One feature I really like about the EM-40, versus other roll laminators in this class, is the fact that this laminator can be used with a standard 110 volt system. The exact power requirements are 110 Volts 60Hz, 20amps. This means you don’t have to have deal with any special power requirements.

The control interface is pretty simple and doesn’t require any touchy settings to get things right. It is pretty much straight forward.

Overall, I really like this laminator. The biggest selling point, other than it being a great overall laminator, is the price. This thing rings in at about half of what many other comparable laminators cost.

You can find the SircleLam EM-40 40″ roll laminator here. You can find our entire selection of roll laminators here.

Are you looking for a tough, fast and durable 27″ roll laminator? With several options available, you may be wondering which laminator you should get. The Ledco Professor 27″ roll laminator may be just what you need. This is my review.

Ledco is considered to be one of the best manufacturers of roll laminators for commercial and industrial use. Their machines are well constructed and are designed to be easy to use and operate. Ledco roll laminators vary in size and width, depending on where they are used and what they will be laminating.

The Ledco Professor is 27″ wide. This means it is ideal for laminating signs, banners, posters and other large documents. It can also be used to simultaneously laminate several small things at once. The Professor is considered to be very fast, with a variable speed motor capable of running at up to 15 feet per minute.

One thing I consider to be convenient is the fact that it can be used with a standard wall outlet. The exact power specifications are 110 volts, 1560 watts, 15 amps. While the wattage is pretty high, you should be fine.

The Ledco Professor is a tough laminator, capable of handling laminating film up to 10 mils thick. This is the thickest film available. This laminator can process roll film, pouches and can even accept mounting board up to 3/16-inch thick.

One of the biggest hassles with using a roll laminator is loading new rolls of film. Feeding the new rolls can seem like trying to navigate a maze. The Ledco Professor has a built-in self-threading feature that makes loading new rolls of film quick and easy. This is a huge plus in my book.

One common concern with any laminator is the quality of the end results. Nobody wants waves, bubbles or cloudy patches in their film. The Ledco Professor uses heated rollers and uses a forced air cooling system that helps the film turn out beautiful and clear.

I am a huge fan of Ledco roll laminators and an I have to say that the Ledco Professor is right up there. It is tough, durable and designed for continuous use. You should be fine using the Professor laminator for medium to high-volume laminating jobs. It is not only easy to set up, but extremely safe to use.

You can find the Ledco Professor 27″ roll laminator here. You can find our entire selection of 25″ and 27″ roll laminators here. Do you still have questions? Feel free to speak with one of our laminator specialists by calling 1-800-658-8788.

Do you work for a school and are looking for a great all-round roll laminator? You probably need a laminator that can withstand constant / daily use without the need to be constantly serviced. I have come up with a list of the top laminators our customers in the educational field prefer to use. This list focuses on thermal roll laminators.

This list is based on popularity with teachers and track record. These laminators have proven themselves over the past decade to be reliable, easy-to-use and extremely durable. Price is of course a huge factor as well since most schools are strapped for cash. This list focuses on roll laminators. Roll laminators are the most popular laminating format used in schools today.

Top 5 Best School Roll Laminators

1. Banner American Easy-Lam School Budget Roll Laminator – This laminator isn’t the fastest laminator around, but it is by far the cheapest in its size. Price plus a great brand (Banner American) makes this laminator a school favorite.
2. Banner American EasyLam and EasyLam II Roll Laminators – The Banner American EasyLam and Easy Lam II have been around for years. These laminators offer a blend of good quality, ease-of-use and price.
3. GBC Pinnacle 27” EZLoad Roll Laminator – The Pinnacle 27” EZLoad is not only popular for its price, but also for the extremely easy system used for loading new film rolls.
4. Ledco Educator 25″ Roll Laminator – A laminator designed for teachers, by teachers. That pretty much sums it up. This laminator was designed from the ground up for use in schools.
5. Banner American MightyLam 2700 Roll Laminator – The name MightyLam pretty much sums it up. This popular school laminator is tough and is designed for the daily rigorous use laminators face in a school environment.

You can find our entire selection of roll laminators here. Do you still have questions about laminators? Feel free to speak with one of our experts at 1-800-658-8788.

If you are in the initial phases of looking for a laminator, you have probably noticed that there are two primary different types of laminators. One type is referred to as a cold laminator and the other as a hot (thermal) laminator. So which style should you go with?

Cold and hot laminators each have their own benefits and disadvantages. About 90 plus percent of the laminators used today are thermal roll laminators. That doesn’t mean that cold laminators are bad, they are just less common. I will go into more detail on the advantages of each format in this article.

COLD LAMINATORS:
(view our cold laminators)

Cold laminators are primarily used for laminating material that is temperature sensitive. This may involve laminating paper with wax-based ink, thermally activated properties or special types of art prints and photographs.

Cold laminators have come a long way over the past few years. Xyron is a great example of a cold laminator manufacturer that makes products capable of producing professional results. One of the biggest disadvantages of cold laminators, in my opinion, is that the film tends to cost more than a hot thermal laminator.

There is a huge range of quality among cold laminators. I have seen some machines that pretty much applied scotch tape to the document with the end results looking pretty sad. Xyron, as far as I’m concerned, gets the job done right the first time.

As a general rule, cold laminated documents will not last as long as hot laminated documents. This is due to the soft nature of the glue used during the cold laminating process.

HOT LAMINATORS:
(view our hot laminators)

Hot laminators, as previously mentioned, are far more common than cold roll laminators. This method of laminating documents has managed to iron out many of the issues associated with thermal laminating. Previous issues used to include cloudy results, bubbles and waves.

Hot laminators are available from literally dozens of different manufacturers and come in hundreds of different designs. This includes both pouch and roll laminators. These laminators, in general, are very easy to set up and use.

If you aren’t laminating temperature sensitive items, I would personally recommend going with a hot laminator. This is due to the availability of machines and the fact that the film is pretty cheap to buy.

CONCLUSION:

Ultimately the machine you get will depend on what you’re laminating, how much you’re laminating and your own personal preference. You can find our entire selection of laminators here. Feel free to call us at 1-800-658-8788 to speak with one of our laminator specialists.

I have spoken with a lot of customers who have roll laminators in need of replacement film. There are a lot of different options out there and most customers simply want the basic, cheapest and most common film available. The most common roll laminator film we offer is our clear glossy film with a 1″ core.

You can find our clear glossy 1″ core laminating film here. This film is available in various mil thicknesses, from 1.5 to 10 mils thick. This film is simple, looks great, is clear and has a glossy finish to it. This is what many people refer to as a NAP I (or NAP 1) film. It works with over 90 percent of the thermal roll laminators out there.

A one-inch core is the most common core size for 25″ and 27″ roll laminators. These are the most common types of laminators used in copy centers, schools and other businesses. You can find our 25″ and 27″ roll laminators here.

We also offer matte laminating film, film with UV protection, cold roll laminating film, Digikote, Bantac and much more. You can find our entire selection of roll laminating film here.

Good luck and happy laminating!

There are few laminators out there capable of handling 10 mil laminating film under $2,000. If you need a sturdy roll laminator that is both affordable and able to handle 10 mil film, you should take a look at the Tamerica TCC2700 27″ roll laminator. We have one of these on our showroom floor and this is my review.

The TCC2700 is made by Tamerica and is often referred to by its old name, the “Tahsin” TCC2700. This laminator is 27-inches wide and is designed to laminate paper, posters, signs and other material. You will find this laminator in schools, print shops and offices.

One of the biggest perks with this laminator is its ability to use laminating film from 1.5 to 10 mils thick. The price is also a huge plus. This is the least expensive roll laminator we offer capable of laminating film up to 10 mils thick. It can also be used to laminate material up to 3/16-inch thick. This laminator uses a 1″ diameter core, which is most common in a laminator of this size.

It is common (and often correct) to think that if something costs less, the quality is less as well. This isn’t the case with the Tamerica TCC2700. This roll laminator has great reputation with our customers and a great track record when it comes to malfunctions and issues.

This laminator handles laminating jobs well. The heated silicon rollers, adjustable temperature and adjustable speed (11″ to 38″ per minute) help the film turn out crystal clear. Heated rollers also help cut down on ripples, waves and bubbles in film.

Not only can this machine be used to laminate larger items, but it can also be used to laminate several smaller items at once. The mandrels can support up to a 1,000-foot roll of 1.5 mil film. That is impressive.

The TCC2700 also features:

• Reverse motor capabilities.
• Film trimmer.
• UL approved.
• Roller separator
• Emergency motor shutoff.
• Ready light with audible alert
• An adjustable feed guide.
• Spring loaded tension knobs.

These features and many others are just a few reasons why the Tamerica TCC2700 may be the right laminator for you. I personally like using it and consider it to be a great deal.

You can find the Tamerica TCC2700 27″ roll laminator here. You can find our entire selection of roll laminators here. Do you still have questions about this machine or other roll laminators? Call us at 1-800-658-8788 to speak with one of our laminating experts.