57 March / April 2024 - Issue 347 email: news@printmonthly.co.uk In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the amount of print service providers (PSPs) bringing finishing in-house. This trend applies to lamination in particular, with more PSPs now offering this service to their customers in-house rather than sending it out to specialist finishing houses. The core reason for doing so is to have more control over the wider production process and ensure you are getting the quality finish you desire. Add in the fact that you will experience a higher profit margin and there is little to argue against investing in your own lamination kit. With this in mind, Print Monthly speaks with several leading suppliers and manufacturers in this area of the finishing market to find out more about their latest solutions and how this will benefit PSPs seeking to expand their offering. Invest in Quality A good place to start is Vivid Laminating Technologies, whose director, Lewis Evans, says investment in a trusted and reliable brand is key. He says opting for a cheaper and lower quality machine may save costs in the short term, but the likelihood is you will encounter problems in the longer run. “Over the years, we have probably taken out a couple of hundred overseas products that were being run without support,” Evans says, adding: “A really well-made laminator is key. If it goes wrong with a cheaper laminator, you need to start the whole project again.” Evans says this is where manufacturers like Vivid can help. A specialist in lamination, Vivid has a range of machines on offer to the market. Evans singles out the Easymount Air 1600 as not only one of the most popular solutions from Vivid but also among the most purchased laminators in the UK. The Easymount Air is not a new product, having been available to purchase for almost ten years now. However, Evans says its features and quality mean it remains an optimum choice for PSPs nearly a decade after its launch. Using pneumatic air pressure, it operates at up to 10m a minute and offers a mounting thickness of up to 30mm. “Once you have perfected the finish with lamination and you get a nice finish, there isn’t really anywhere else to go that benefits the customer; and this is very much the case with our Easymount Air,” Evans says, adding: “It is the ideal solution for anyone running high volume work.” “That said, we are now bringing in automated cutters on the back of the Easymount range; they sit on the back and cut work, offering more capabilities to FINISH THE JOB From protecting printed work to adding value for the customer, lamination is a critical part of the finishing process. Here, we look at some of the latest solutions and technologies on the market LAMINATION EQUIPMENT ► D&K Europe offers a range of lamination solutions
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