New laminator

[SignGuyUSA]

Hi all! We are in the market for a new 60" laminator. Heat not necessary, but will be considered. We currently have a seal 54 base that loves to skew left. We need to upgrade size anyway so we can lam 60" vinyl for wraps. Suggestions of what brands to look at and what to stay away from would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Behrmon]

After many years of our Seal switched to the Kala Mistral, great so far after about a year in.

 

[KEYSER SOZE]

Mr Bear Man is correct.

We saw the Kala Mistral being run at a trade show a couple of years ago.
After years of dicking around with prints drifting and having to steer anything longer than 3-4 metres through our high-end laminator, I was blown away.
Since having it we laminate full 50 metre rolls with no more than 1mm of drift, no buckling, roll after roll, never fails.

The trick is how and where you load your prints on the laminator.
Check out the video

.
We do it this way even with as little as 2 metres of print.

I don't believe this is do-able on Kala's entry level machine, get the Mistral.

 

[karst41]

The Seal 54 Base that skews Left:
Have you adjusted the Top Roller?
ACCO Services Seal Laminators in my area (Atlanta)
Unless I am missing something about your laminator, you can call Seal
800 Number on the Laminator tag. Service call is $300.
and that is a ton cheaper than a new laminator.

My Seal was hopeless and I bought a RS 6500 H
Due to shipping; the laminator had to be adjusted when it arived

If I could do it all over again I would have bought the GFP 65"
You have heat assist option, Rear take up option and most important
is a option for Slitters.
If you add all options I think the price is less than $11k

You have to do your homework and overlooking GFP would not be wise.
Outside of GFP and RS 5500 & 6500, I would look at Pneumatic Laminators
There are a few new generation that are inexpensive.

hope this helps and good luck.

 

[wleong]

Are there third party slitters that can be installed on laminators?

 

[jfiscus]

Get a GFP 563th. We had a Arctic Titan and Seal laminator and they were horrible. Finally got a couple 563th laminators and they blow them away. Full rolls all day every day without issue.