Laminating Problems and Solutions

Ledco Laminating FAQs
Bubbles or silvering between film and paper

Ledco Laminators FAQs

Bubbling: A few large bubbles on the leading edge of the sheet being laminated is characteristic of what happens when the item is pushed into the nip faster than the speed of the laminator. As the paper buckles upward, the image side touches the top web of film in advance of the the nip. Once captured in the adhesive, the bubbles cannot be removed. Bubbles can be captured in the same manner when the back of the item is lifted off the feed tray, or when the item is pushed too quickly as it is being fed.

Bubbles can also be caused by lack of supply roll tension. Too little supply roll tension will cause bubbles before it will cause wrinkles in the film. See the page on setting supply roll tension.

Bubbles and wrinkles can also be seen if the film is not threaded correctly, if the temperature is too low, or if the laminating rollers are open.

Silvering: Silvering is caused by the capture of tiny bubbles of air. It looks like a hazy or reflective area in the lamination. It may go unseen over light areas of an image, but will be more obvious over dark or black areas. Silvering is usually caused by too low of an operating temperature. Silvering is most often seen when a machine is not given time to warm up or if the film temperature drops too low. When a large machine is warmed up without the motor on, one side of each laminating roller remains relatively cool. When lamination is begun, a pattern of repeated silvering can be seen each time the cool side of a roller is applied to the lamination. Watch for any defect which repeats. This is typical of debris, damage, or low temperature on a section of the roller.

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