What’s so great about the Compass Laminator?

A Roll Laminator is a Hot or Cold Laminator that uses Laminating Film to encapsulate and protect documents larger than you would be able to accomplish with a pouch laminator. Roll Laminators are designed for higher volume runs & are typically used for two sided laminate. With a maximum laminating width of 27″, a Roll Laminator is perfect for laminating posters, maps, book covers, signs, photographs, charts, and much more. They allow for high production rates, are durable and allow your application to be wiped clean. Many roll laminators can also handle mounting documents of several different thicknesses and on a variety of Mounting Boards. Roll lamination is a process that involves two laminating rolls, a top and a bottom roll, and is placed on the machine with the glue sides facing each other. As the rolls are “uncoiled” a document is placed in between the two pieces of laminate and sealed as it travels through the rollers and the heat is applied. This lamination process is generally used for larger volume items as it can run at higher speeds and in a continuous roll.

If roll lamination sounds like your solution, then it is time to start researching roll laminating machines. We are aware that this process can be tiring, as there are hundreds of models and manufacturers to choose from. When you are conducting your search, you may come across the fact that one of the most popular roll laminators on the market is the Compass 27” Roll Laminator by Ledco… but what makes it so great?

Engineered to provide years of service in a small business, school or mid-volume copy and print shop with little or no maintenance, the Ledco Compass Roll Laminator utilizes the latest computer control technology and special dual silicon-coated hot rollers, allowing it to laminate a maximum film thickness of ten mil and mount material as thick as 1/8″ thick. The microprocessor control prevents the laminator from operating until the optimum laminating temperature is reached. The Compass Roll Laminator features internal tension rollers that provide perfect film tension control–without constant user adjustment–producing clear and flat results every time. The easy load system makes loading and threading rolls of film safe and trouble free. The internal film supply monitor informs the user when the supply is low preventing wasted originals due to an out of film condition. The 27″ Ledco Compass Roll Laminator features an automatic energy saver mode that powers down the laminator to idle mode after 30 minutes of inactivity. After an additional 30 minutes the Compass Laminator will automatically shut down, saving valuable energy.

The Compass’ heated silicone rubber laminating rollers are flexible enough to provide a good edge seal and firm enough to offer a good surface seal. High silicone content insures a much longer average roller life, so replacement is not likely. The rollers are spring loaded to ensure even and accurate pressure is applied to your documents. A variable speed control lets you operate at as fast as fifteen feet per minute. Typically, thicker laminating film produces the best results when set on a low to medium setting while thinner films work better on a medium to high setting. The Ledco Compass features a LCD temperature display that makes it easy to set and maintain the correct temperature through lamination. The indicator light inside the heat switch comes on as the machine warms up. At set temperature the indicator light turns off. One of the best things about the Compass is its ease of use; conveniently placed controls and switches provide a compact and reliable control pad. Icons and international symbols are used for controls and safety warnings, so there is never any confusion about what is displayed on the screen.

Threading can be the most difficult aspect of using a laminator, so the Compass has built in threading aids to make the process simple. Once the upper and lower webs of film have been threaded through the machine, bottom idler threading is automatic when the operator closes the feed tray into its operating position. Forced air cooling allows laminating with thicker films. Without a cooling system, thicker films will warp or ripple because they are still too hot when they come out the back of the laminator. The Compass has a more effective cooling system than any other machine in its class.

Another great feature of the Compass Laminator is its ease of cleaning; the silicone rubber rollers of the laminator are easy to clean, and should be cleaned regularly. While most roll laminators have heat shoes and difficult interior mechanisms, making it hard to get to the heating mechanism, the Compass allows for easy access to the rollers. An attached polycarbonate safety shield is clear so that the operators can see their work, and be protected. It’s fixed to the machine and placed so they’ll naturally put it in the guard position before laminating.

The Ledco Compass Roll Laminator is made to last and requires little maintenance (other than the regular upkeep of your laminator, such as cleaning the rollers, and replacing when necessary). A reverse function will allow for easy removal of jams, and will help clear miss feeds. Jams can be a machine-breaking mistake, so this feature is very important, especially for those who will be taking advantage of its entire 27” width. It takes lamination with a core size of 1”, making finding a lamination that will fit easy. Warm-up time is about 30 minutes, which is the average for a roll laminator of this size, and once set, the laminator heat is adjustable from 100 degrees to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. The last great feature of the Ledco Compass Roll Laminator is the standard manufacturer’s warranty of two years; a time-frame that is practically unheard of in the lamination industry.

If you have any questions or are interested in the Ledco Compass 27″ Roll Laminator , visit Tim the Tutor at Binding101. They have great pricing on a full line of Heated Roll Laminating Machines , and they charge only $9 for shipping UPS Ground. Shop online now!