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