Film Lamination Processes
Chicago Laminating gives you the option of several film lamination processes, each with its own specific advantages. You can choose hte exact cost/benefit combination you and your customer require.
Film lamination offers the greatest durability and protection. It involves the physical bonding of a plastic-based film to your press sheets through the application of adhesives, heat and pressure. A variety of laminating material can be used, each with its own unique properties and advantages.
Film lamination is the process of choice when maximum durability and greatly enhanced appearance are primary consideration in your print project. Our state-of-the-art equipment assures you of the capacity, flexibility and cost-efficiency to meet any need.
Polypropylene Lamination
Polypropylene offers the greatest economy of all laminating films. It has excellent smoothness and optical properties-adding depth and dimension to the printed sheet. Polypropylene lamination can be folded or scored without cracking. It does not become brittle with age. It provides a superior moisture barrier, and can be used for write-on wipe-off applications.
While polypropylene is not recommended for gluing, depending on your layout our equipment can process your order with exposed, unlaminated strips for gluing. Foil stamping of polypropylene is not recommended.
Polyester Lamination
Polyester is the hardest of all laminating films. It is available in a variety of thicknesses and finishes. It is somewhat higher in cost than polypropylene but offers greater strength, abrasion resistance, flexibility, and performance. It is impervious to moisture, oils, and common chemicals. It produces greater depth and brilliance on the printed sheet.
Nylon Lamination
Nylon is the lamination of choice when the product is to be laminated on one side only. It has excellent clarity, gloss, and abrasion resistance, but also possesses the ability to resist curling. Since curling is attributed to the absorption of moisture to the unsealed side of a laminated sheet, the use of nylon is a natural. Since nylon film absorbs moisture at a similar rate as the substrate, it will resist extreme curl. As moisture is removed from the substrate it will also dissipate from the film and will allow the sheet to return its original state. Primary uses are dust jackets, soft cover books, annual reports, etc.
U.V. Coating
U.V. Coating of your press sheets offers appearance and durability advantages approaching those of film lamination, at a lower cost. In this process, coating is applied by roller and then bonded to the sheets through exposure to ultra violet curing lamps. As with film lamination, a range of materials can be used to produce the desired properties for specific end use.
Foil stamping should be completed prior to coating, since most coated surfaces will not successfully accept these processes. Because most coating materials are not glueable, our equipment has the capability to process your order with uncoated areas to accept adhesives.
A new “Glueable/Stampable” UV coating has been developed to accommodate gluing and foil stamping, but it is strongly recommended that this product be tested using the adhesive or foil that is ultimately going to utilized in your finishing process to determine compatibility between products.
U.V. coating is the preferred finishing choice when project economics do not allow film lamination but durability and high gloss are important to your customer. Our offline coating processes surpass the quality of available inline systems.
Pressure Sensitive Lamination
Pressure sensitive with peel off release liner can be applied to the back of your press sheets, either alone or in combination with other laminating material applied to the front of the sheet. A range of tack strengths is available. This process is ideal for displays, decals, clock and instrument faces, identification labels, and other uses.
