| For years, roll laminators have been used in schools, | | | | in cutting the finished laminated materials from the |
| churches, print shops and larger organizations to | | | | machine. |
| laminate all sorts of different materials. However, the | | | | Limitations: |
| size and cost of these machines kept most smaller | | | | At this point, you might be wondering "what's the |
| users from purchasing a roll laminator. Most individuals | | | | catch"? Well, every great machine has a few |
| simply didn't want to spend thousands of dollars on a | | | | drawbacks. One potential drawback of the Ultima35 is |
| laminator or didn't have a place to keep a machine that | | | | that the supplies for it are proprietary. This means that |
| weighed over 100 pounds and was almost three feet | | | | you will need to purchase the special laminating rolls |
| wide. With this in mind, GBC (General Binding | | | | that are designed specifically for this machine. These |
| Corporation) released a new 12" wide roll laminator | | | | supplies are slightly more expensive than standard |
| that was designed to address some of these | | | | laminating roll film. However, the machine is |
| problems. I took this new GBC Ultima 35 EZload roll | | | | considerably less expensive and this is a reasonable |
| laminator for a test drive and here is what I | | | | tradeoff for such an inexpensive feature rich laminator. |
| discovered. | | | | The Ultima-35 is limited to 12" wide rolls. This means |
| Features: | | | | that you can laminate anything up to twelve inches |
| After you get Ultima35 out of the box, get it all set up | | | | wide. However, it will not be able to handle posters or |
| and turn it on the first thing that you will notice is that it | | | | other large format documents. If you are going to need |
| is very quick to warm up. In fact, it only took between | | | | to laminate these types of materials you will need to |
| 1-2 minutes for it to warm up. Compared to most roll | | | | look for a larger machine. The Ultim35 Ezload is also |
| laminators (and a lot of pouch laminators) this is | | | | not capable of using specialty laminating films and |
| extremely fast. This makes it possible to increase | | | | won't do mounting. These are not common applications |
| productivity by decreasing the time that it takes to | | | | but I thought that I should point it out just in case you |
| laminate your first document. | | | | are looking for a machine that can do these things. |
| One of the main reasons that GBC developed the | | | | The final limitation that noted with the Ultima35 is that |
| Ultima 35 was to address issues with users loading | | | | even though it is impossible to load the film backwards, |
| their laminating film backwards on their machines. | | | | it isn't really any easier to load than a traditional |
| Every year, the single most common reason for | | | | laminator. You still have to carefully thread the film |
| service calls on laminators is that users load the film | | | | through the correct path in order to get it threaded |
| with the adhesive side facing the rollers and end up | | | | onto the machine. This can be a little bit tricky and it |
| with a huge mess. The Ultima35 eliminates this problem | | | | might take you a few times before you master it. |
| by using special laminating film that has keyed rollers. | | | | Construction: |
| One side of the film comes with a light blue adaptor on | | | | The Ultima35 appears to be built well and should hold |
| it and the other side comes with a dark blue adaptor. | | | | up over time. The sides of the machine are plastic and |
| The two sides are different sizes; this means that it is | | | | the feed tray is metal. The gears inside are metal. You |
| impossible to load the film into the machine the wrong | | | | might want to be careful with the trimming device on |
| way. | | | | the back of the machine, it might get broken if you |
| The Ultima 35 is actually a fairly versatile machine. It | | | | aren't careful. The only other thing that I noticed on the |
| accepts roll film that is 1.7mil, 3mil and 5mil thick. The | | | | machine that I was looking at was that it was a little bit |
| specifications from GBC state that it can also handle | | | | loud when I had it on. There is a fan near the back of |
| 10mil film. However, 10mil film is not currently available | | | | the machine that helps to cool the unit. This fan sounds |
| and there is no expected date for its release at the | | | | a little bit like a loud computer fan. It is more of an |
| time of this review. In addition to regular gloss films, | | | | annoyance but it is worth noting. |
| GBC also released some matte films for the Ultima35. | | | | I wouldn't be doing you justice if I didn't mention the fact |
| These are new offerings for the 2008 calendar year. | | | | that you should be careful about what you feed |
| In working with the Ultima35, there were several other | | | | through your laminator. You shouldn't try to laminate |
| features that I noticed that are worth pointing out. It has | | | | things that will melt, plastics, sharp objects, glitter or |
| an adjustable speed dial that will allow you to adjust | | | | materials with glitter on them or 3D objects. All of |
| for different materials that you are laminating and for | | | | these things can quickly ruin your laminator and it will |
| thicker films. It also has a forward and reverse feature | | | | not be covered under the warranty if you do attempt |
| that can be used to help with the removal of film | | | | these things. |
| wraps or jams. Finally, it has a built in trimmer to assist | | | | |