Comparing Pouch Laminators - Fellowes Vs GBC

							?Until you find yourself in the market for a laminator, you may not realize all of the
options and features that are available in laminating systems. There are many
differences in the capabilities of pouch laminators that are available for use in your
office.

This article will discuss some of the differences between pouch laminating equipment
from two of the largest manufacturers of laminating equipment: Fellowes and GBC.
These are both trusted names in the document protection industry, and there is good
reason for that. Both of these companies are well known for building reliable binding
and laminating equipment. However, there are subtle differences in the capabilities
and features of their machines. This article we discuss the relative merits of some of
the Fellowes and GBC pouch laminating equipment.

First, let's compare the Fellowes Jupiter JL 125 and the GBC H425. When it comes to
entry width, The Jupiter allows for 12.5 inches, while the GBC is 13 inches. This is a
minor difference that will rarely come into play, but it is something to consider. Both
machines feature four rollers which make the laminating process easier and reduces
bubbles or imperfections in the finished laminate.

The Jupiter heats up and is ready to use in four minutes; the GBC H425 takes five.
Again, not a huge difference, but the Fellowes machine will allow you to save a little
time. Still there are two other differences that are worth noting:

1. The Jupiter features Fellowes' patented HeatGuard Technology, a safety measure
that ensures that the machine is always cool to the touch. This is an important feature.
Laminating machines can get rather hot and inexperienced users may burn their hands
if they don't know to be careful.

2. The Fellowes warranty is two years. The GBC warranty is just one year. Both offer
excellent warranty service and are easy to deal with in the unlikely event that the
machine needs repair or replacement.

The next two machines we will take a look at are Fellowes Venus VL 125, and the
GBC H435. They are also two very similar machines with slight variations in their
features. The heat up times are the same as the machines we discussed above, as are
the number of rollers. Again, the Fellowes Venus VL-125 features the HeatGuard
technology while the GBC has no such safety feature.

The GBC H435 does laminate at a slightly faster speed, 22 inches per minute as
compared to the Venus' 19 inches. Again, as above, with very similar features and
capabilities, the Venus lists for around $50 less than the GBC. It also features the
HeatGuard, and comes with a 2-year warranty. The Venus is compatible with thicker
laminating pouches and can be used with pouches that are 3mil-10mil thick while the
GBC H435 can only be used with pouches that are between 3mil-7mil thick.The last
two machines we will discuss are the big guns: The Fellowes SPL 125 and the GBC
H600 Pro.

In this case, the SPL 125's heat up time is the clear winner at three minutes vs. the
H600's nine. The SPL also laminates at a faster speed at 35 inches per minute verses
31 for the GBC. However, the real surprising difference in these very similar
machines, is the price. The SPL 125 lists at $699.95 while the H600 comes in at
$1,876. Clearly the winner here is the SPL 125, especially when you consider that this
machine comes with a two-year warranty as opposed to the one year warranty .

If you are looking for a Pouch Laminator for your business or home, a great place to
check out is MyBinding.com. They carry one of the largest selections of Laminating
Pouches and laminating supplies on the internet. In fact, they carry the entire line of
GBC Heatseal laminators, Fellowes Pouch Laminating Machines along with
laminating equipment from manufacturers such as Akiles and Tamerica.