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LAMINATING SYSTEMS

For dry laminating of fabric to foam, fiberglass, film or other fabrics.

Laminating can be described as the combining or bonding of one substrate to another using an adhesive. Different forms of laminating can be used to achieve the same result. The laminating process that we highlight on our website is a dry laminating process using a web, powder or pressure sensitive adhesive and a machine that is commonly referred to in the industry as a flatbed laminator. (See diagram below) This dry laminating process allows for bonding at relatively low temperatures.  

High Production Continuous Laminating System

Platen Type Laminating Machines

A platen type of laminator can also be used in the laminating process. Platen type machines are often used with small  parts and when production requirements are low.

Side View Platen Type Laminating Machine	Platen Type Laminating machine

The above machine can also be used in the Fusing and Heat Transfer printing process

Low Temperature Laminating

The process of low temperature laminating is a very effective and controlled procedure, with a tremendous amount of flexibility. This allows for a very wide range of substrates to be bonded together on the very same production line with very rapid changeover times between production runs.

Benefits of Low Temperature bonding:

• Ability to process heat sensitive materials
• Elimination of material shrinkage
• Prevention of laminating problems such as strike-back and strike-through
• Ability to maintain the original appearance of the material
• Longer heating chambers mean lower temperatures and higher speeds

Advantages of Dry Heat

Increased world-wide concerns and legislation regarding toxic emissions to the atmosphere and the need for safe clean work environments has led textile and lamination companies to investigate new bonding technologies. These new technologies have been replacing the traditional methods of solvents and flame lamination.

Heavy levels of lsocynate and chemical emissions associated with these methods have forced both processors and their customers to seriously consider cleaner and safer alternatives in the laminating process.

Dry Heat offers these advantages

• Complete elimination of Toxic emissions
• Clean dry and safe production processing
• Lower energy usage
• Low processing temperatures – as little as 85degrees C
• Very controlled production – the ability to stop mid-flow without problems, reducing waste.

Other Types of Laminating

Other forms of laminating include flame laminating, spray laminating and wet laminating. Fusing, which is often confused with laminating is a process used in the apparel industry. A hot melt adhesive backing is fused/bonded to textile material giving it stability and wrinkle résistance.

There are four main categories of adhesives:-

• Reactive adhesives – web & Powder
• Self-adhesive system  (pressure sensitive)
• Solvent based adhesives
• Thermoplastic adhesives – can be reactivated

The above adhesives are used in the following forms depending on the application

• Powder
• Web & Films
• Disperse, pastry or dissolved
• Thermo- liquefied granules or block forms

The right adhesive for your application requires testing to make sure the required bond strength is achieved, Jesse Heap & Son can put you in touch with an adhesive supplier that will perform tests and recommend the right adhesive for your particular application.

High Production Continuous Duty Fusing/Laminating System Video

More information on our line of laminating machines available here. We also carry a lower-priced refurbished flatbed laminating systems.