Frequently Asked Questions

Thickness Application Guidelines:

• Celloglazing 34 micron – Business cards / Brochures
• 34 micron – Maps (can be folded)
• 80 micron – Posters
• 125 micron – Menus
• 150 micron – Place mats
• 250 micron – Id cards

If the pouch is jammed inside and is no longer visible from the front or back of the laminator then you will not normally be able to remove it unless you have a model with either an anti-jam system like a reverse switch, a release mechanism or easy access lifting lid. Attempting to remove the pouch through tampering with the laminator will void the warranty. If part of the pouch is visible from the back or front of the laminator then you may be able to remove it by pulling the pouch from the front or rear but please note that it might be better to have it removed by a qualified technician as jamming caused by misuse or failing to following the operating instructions is not covered by the warranty.

It is generally recommended that you use a quality pouch with a minimum micron of 80, we recommend not using cheaper lower quality pouches as they can cause jamming, will produce a poor finish, can leave a damaging deposit on the rollers, and can void manufacturer’s warranties.

Contact the place of purchase or call PHE service centre on 1800 632 200.

All laminating pouches have a thickness measured in microns. Laminating pouches enclose the document between 2 sheets and as a result the thickness can be expressed in two ways. For example, pouches can be described as being 2 x 75 microns (mic) thick this means it’s a 75 micron pouch or 2 x 80 microns (mic) thick this is an 80 micron pouch, you don’t add the two together.

Never attempt to laminate the following items, as they are likely to damage your laminator or result in jamming. As a general rule, laminators are designed for documents so laminating anything other than a sheet of paper or thin card will greatly increase the risk of jamming.

• Leaves, flowers or vegetable matter
• Several small pictures in one pouch
• An item that is too small for the pouch and leaves more than a 2-3mm border unless using a ‘Lifejacket Carrier’
• Newspaper
• Thermal paper

We strongly advise against laminating multiple cut-outs inside one pouch. Attempting to laminate more than one document in a pouch is likely to result in jamming. Instead, purchase smaller pouches and laminate each document individually, as this also allows a better finish with round corners etc.

Depending on the complexity of the laminator and the finish required dictates the number of rollers needed. Generally, 2 roller systems heat and seal in tandem. For more sophisticated systems the first set of rollers heat the pouch to melt the adhesive and subsequent rollers are designed to seal the document to produce a more professional and higher quality finish.

Cold laminating uses pressure sensitive adhesives to bind the film to the material being laminated. As a result, cold lamination requires specially designed laminating pouches containing sticky adhesive which do not require heat. Cold lamination is your best option when laminating heat-sensitive documents or photos. Most laminators have cold and hot lamination settings to provide maximum flexibility.

It is normal for new laminators to have a slight smell during the first use. This is simply from the new element and should fade with subsequent uses. If you experience a consistent smell or smoking from your laminator then please check that you have not set the temperature too high. Under normal use a laminator will produce a slight smell when the pouch is inserted but this is simply the polyethylene which is not harmful to your health.

It is NEVER recommended that you try to repair your laminator as this can be dangerous and will void the warranty. Depending on the model it may be possible to repair products inside the warranty period, or outside the warranty period at cost.

There are a number of advantages and examples of where laminating can be useful. Some more popular examples are listed below:

• Protects from spills: sales presentation materials
• Protects from rain: sports and outdoor activities
• Protects from grease and chemicals: maintenance check-lists
• Protects from smudges & fingerprints: menus
• Protects from abrasion: instructional materials
• Protects from the sun: outdoor directional signs
• Protects from creases and wrinkles: sales promotion material

It is possible that the rollers may have small deposits of adhesive on them from previous laminating. To clean the rollers, simply pass a plain uncoated sheet of paper through your laminator when it is still hot. Any adhesive residue should then be absorbed by the paper.

It is likely that the temperature is set too high. Check that the temperature setting corresponds to the pouches being used and turn the machine to a lower setting if you can. Passing a clean sheet of uncoated paper through the laminator will also help to cool down the rollers.

Cloudiness is usually caused by either the temperature being too low, or the document being too thick. Try passing your document through the laminator one or more time. If you have a temperature adjustment on your laminator then you can raise the temperature slightly. If the problem is not resolved then consider choosing a thinner pouch, or reduce the thickness of the document you are trying to laminate.

It is possible that the document is too close to the edge of the pouch to create a strong seal. For best results, allow a 2-3mm border to allow the pouch to seal correctly. If this does not solve the problem then check that you are using the correct temperature setting and try passing the document through the laminator for a second time. Most laminators have been designed to be carrier-free. This means that using a carrier may result in a poor finish or increase the risk of jamming.

Gold Sovereign laminators supplied now have been designed to be carrier-free (please see instructions). This means that using a carrier may result in a poor finish. When using a carrier, you may have to pass the document through the laminator more than once in order to properly seal the pouch as carriers can absorb heat.

As a guide, standard 80gsm paper is 0.08mm thick.

The total thickness includes both the contents of the pouch and the pouch itself.

PHE laminators are chosen from the most prestigious manufacturers available and are designed to suit most users and the environment in which they work in, providing operating instructions are followed, all models suit an academic environment.

Jam-free means that your machine should not experience any incidences of jamming providing you follow the manufacturers operating instructions. Machines can now be purchased with anti-jam features including a reverse mechanism or a release button. Although most laminators are not classed as jam-free, they should not jam providing the operating instructions are followed.

Most office laminators are covered by a 24 month warranty against faulty manufacturing.