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Laminator: 25 inch vs 27 inch
Periodically we get requests or questions about a 27-inch laminator, usually for the school market. Ledco makes only 25-inch
laminators in that size range. The concept of a 27-inch laminator was a good marketing idea. It's a way for those manufacturers to
differentiate themselves. Bigger is often seen as better.
However, Ledco decided to stop making 27-inch laminators some years ago and we have no plans for one. There are several reasons
for our decision.
Longer laminating rollers and pull rollers are subject to increased stress. If we made the rollers the same way, and just lengthened them, roll pressure and ability to produce good lamination would suffer. In order to maintain roll pressure, we realized we'd have to beef up those parts. If we beefed up those parts, the resulting 27-inch laminator would have been quite a bit costlier than an Educator.
We reached the conclusion that to make a 27-inch machine, we'd have to sacrifice quality of components and quality of lamination; or we'd have to increase the price. All the other manufacturers apparently agree with us. Those that make 27-inch machines have either made a much more costly unit or they have made an inexpensive unit with
cheaper components, less reliability, less versatility, and lower quality of lamination.
Any action to change a product has both positive and negative consequences. We spent a lot of time discussing the cost/benefit
issues of 25 vs 27.
A 25-inch machine handles all the items most schools want to laminate. Every year Ledco exhibits at all three National
School Supply and Equipment Association (NSSEA) shows. Nearly all publishers of posters, games, maps, bulletin board
decorations, and other teaching aids exhibit at these shows.
At the show, we offer free lamination to all the other exhibitors. We also collect samples of all types of posters, maps, and teaching
aids. We laminate these samples and we display them in our booth. All these items, except for wall maps, can be laminated on a
25-inch Educator. The wall maps would not fit on a 27-inch machine either. We take them back home and laminate them on a Digital
42 or 60.
We also looked at the graphic market. Over 80% of all printing presses are 20 inches or under. Frequently laminated
graphics include posters, menus, countertop signs, and various promotional material. Almost all of these items are typically less
than 24 inches wide. Because a 25-inch laminator will handle everything most people need to laminate, there is seldom a need for a
27-inch machine. In other words, the idea of a 27-inch sounds better than it really is.
Here are some other factors which could affect your decision about a laminator:
Observing laminators in schools, we noticed that most 27-inch machines had 25-inch film on them because 25-inch film is cheaper and suppliers are more likely to have it in stock. When we saw 27-inch film is use, we noticed that much more film was being wasted because most items are under 22 inches wide.
We believe quality and reliability beat low price in the long run. Most people do not want an inferior product. They would rather have a better product, even if it costs a little more.
The 25-inch Ledco Educator is the only roll laminator on the market designed specifically and exclusively for schools. It is the only unit with a 2-year manufacturer's warranty. It is the most user-friendly and reliable machine on the market. It is the only
machine to come with video instructions. No other machine, 25 or 27-inch, has these features.
This is a reprint from Ledco.
Laminator specifications and pricing, click
here
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