10 Best Laminating Machines in the Philippines 2025 | CUYI, QUAFF, and More

The type of laminator you use determines several other factors moving forward such as size limits and films they accept. In this section, we’ll introduce you to the main types of laminators to choose from. 

Laminating material, whether pouches or sheets, are measured in mils, which is a thousandth of an inch. In general, the higher the mil, the more rigid the finished product. For instance, a 3-mil film offers great protection for objects that are infrequently handled, such as posters.

On the other hand, if you want sturdier protection for day-to-day use, it’s best to use a 10-mil film. These produce a similar thickness to credit cards, so they’re perfect for luggage tags and IDs. Meanwhile, a 5-mil film is a good in-between as it provides a sturdy base, yet the document can still be folded and scored, such as in menus.

Your type of laminator also determines what films it accepts. A pouch type usually ranges from 3- to 10 mil. A roll type, on the other hand, typically only supports 1.5- to 3-mil. Meanwhile, a cold laminator accepts 3- to 5-mil films.

Laminating machines can be slow. To prevent the document from creasing, it has to slowly draw the sheet in. This also applies the adhesive more evenly for a smoother finish. Most low-end laminators have a speed of 12 inches per minute.

If you want faster speeds, there are options that incorporate a multiple-roller system. With the higher number of components, these products can go as high as 55 inches per minute without sacrificing quality. 

These are best if you need to laminate multiple documents as quickly as possible. Otherwise, if you only use the machine occasionally, it’s best to stick to lower-speed laminators to save up on costs.

Laminators that use heat need a few minutes to warm up before being fully functional. Otherwise, the adhesive won’t stick, or you’ll have air bubbles across your document. That said, nobody wants to wait a long time for a machine to warm up, especially if the document that needs laminating is on a deadline.

Currently, the industry standard is five minutes. Unfortunately, you can’t leave the laminator turned on as this risks overheating. So, unless you want to repeatedly wait five minutes every time you need something laminated, we suggest getting models that have a warm-up speed of one minute.

Take note, though, that this feature tends to drive up the cost. In addition, the initial warm-up takes up a lot of wattages, so we recommend first checking your house’s maximum electrical load. This is to avoid any machine malfunction, or worse, a socket exploding and causing a fire.

Like any other piece of electronics, laminating machines can get hot. As such, they can’t run for too long before needing to turn themselves off and cool down. Otherwise, not only is this a fire hazard, but it can also melt the film in the machine, causing a jam.

Most laminators recommend a runtime of 20-30 minutes. However, to avoid accidents, we recommend checking the label for specific instructions. In addition, be sure not to use the laminator on a bed or carpet where heat builds up.

Laminators tend to jam, especially roll and pouch types. This typically happens when the machine is left on for too long, causing the film to melt and wrap around the machine. Similarly, inserting a laminating pouch from the wrong end can also lead to a jam. Not only is this a hassle, but trying to remove the stuck document can also lead to a fire.

Fortunately, newer models have features to resolve these issues like an anti-blocking system (ABS) and reverse mode. The ABS is commonly a button or lever that, once pressed, separates the rollers pressing against the document. This allows you to remove it more easily.

On the other hand, reverse mode tells the roller to spin in the opposite direction, effectively churning out the stuck document. Just remember that these methods are not perfect. In the worst cases, the laminator must be opened by a professional to solve the problem.