What is cold lamination?
Hot lamination uses film coated with an adhesive that melts when heated. The item passes through heated rollers or a pouch laminator, and the softened adhesive bonds the film to the print as it cools.
Cold lamination uses a pressure-sensitive adhesive instead. The adhesive is already tacky; rollers simply press the film firmly onto the print. No heat is involved at any stage. That makes it quicker to start, safer to use and kinder to many types of print.
Why choose cold?
- Heat-sensitive prints are safe. Some inkjet prints, photographs, thermal prints and items with wax or plastic content can discolour, blister or curl under heat. Cold lamination avoids the risk.
- No warm-up. There is nothing to heat, so you can laminate the moment you need to.
- No hot surfaces. Safer in schools, shared offices and busy studios.
- Thicker items. Without the need for heat to penetrate the item, cold systems can often handle thicker media; the Xyron 2500, for example, accepts media up to 4mm thick.
- Combine steps. Cold systems such as Xyron can apply laminate to the front and adhesive to the back in a single pass.
Hot vs cold at a glance
| Hot lamination | Cold lamination | |
|---|---|---|
| How the film bonds | Heat-activated adhesive | Pressure-sensitive adhesive |
| Power | Electricity required | Not needed with Xyron hand-operated models |
| Warm-up time | Yes | None |
| Heat-sensitive prints | Risk of damage | Safe |
| Laminate + adhesive in one pass | Not typically | Yes, with combination consumables |
Getting a good result
- Make sure inks are fully dry before laminating. This is especially important with inkjet prints on coated media.
- Dust the print and work surface. Pressure-sensitive film holds on to anything trapped beneath it.
- Feed the item straight and turn the handle at a steady, even pace. Stopping and starting can leave lines.
- Let the rollers do the work; there is no need to force the item through.
- Trim with a sharp blade or guillotine for a clean edge.
Tip: Cold laminating film bonds on contact, so get the item square before you start. A slight skew at the leading edge becomes a large one by the end of a long poster.
Cold lamination with Xyron
Xyron machines are non-electric, turn-a-handle cold laminators. Choose from the 1250/55 (A3), the 2500 (A1, laminates and encapsulates edge to edge, compatible with laser, inkjet, colour and thermal prints) or the Creative Station (A4). See Xyron lamination and laminating vs encapsulating for more.
For larger or outdoor work, liquid laminate can be an alternative to film; see film vs liquid laminate.
Ask the team
Call 01252 624411 or email sales@landoruk.com for advice, pricing and availability.