Laminates and laminates serve to protect documents and make them more durable. They act as a protective element against humidity, dust, chemical agents or direct sunlight. They are plastic films that are applied by means of pressure rollers, both hot and cold. But what is the difference between laminates and laminates?
Laminated and laminated, a matter of thickness
The only difference between a laminate and a laminate (also called encapsulation) is the thickness of the plastic material. The laminate is approximately 50 microns while the laminate is between 100 and 200 microns. (Note that 1 micron equals one thousandth of a mm). Therefore, laminated documents will always be stiffer than laminated documents.
The laminate can be applied hot or cold and on 1 or 2 sides, depending on the material. Instead, the laminate is always applied with heat and double-sided. But beware! There are some products that, if we apply heat to them, such as adhesive vinyls, could be damaged and therefore they will always have to be laminated cold.
Both laminating machines and laminating machines are capable of handling a multitude of materials. At Gràfic Center we apply laminate to business cards, restaurant menus, posters, book covers, vinyls, etc. Discover here more applications of laminates. Instead, we laminate documents that require protection but also rigidity. Click here to learn more about laminates.
Documents and materials of almost all sizes can be laminated and laminated. Gràfic Center machines allow laminating to a maximum width of 140cm and laminating to a maximum width of 63cm.
Different finishes of laminates and laminates
Plasticized or encapsulated products have a very limited finish: matte or glossy. Yes, there are different types of laminating thicknesses to give more or less rigidity to your documents. In contrast, laminate has a wider range of finishes. In addition to being able to laminate in glossy or matt (be careful that the matte scratches very easily) there is also, for example, the non-slip laminate for floor prints, the softoutch laminate with a silky finish or the anti-fingerprint laminate.
Alternatives to laminate
If you want your documents to last and be protected, the best option is to laminate or laminate them. But there are other alternative options on the market: for example, at Gràfic Center we print restaurant menus on PVC paper (called Picofilm) that is already protected and ready to get wet. Another option are vinyls or adhesives that incorporate protective film, ideal for labeling cars or sticking vinyls on the ground without the danger of slipping. Whatever your option, we always recommend laminating your business cards, posters, foams ... as this will give them a better and more elegant finish and you will be able to forget about the typical problems caused by the passage of time and inclement weather.