Lamination pouches have been a reliable method for the preservation of documents for many decades. According to Mike McRitchie, the method was first devised in the early 1900s and has become the de facto method used in protecting important documents such as IDs, certificates, menus, and pictures. Laminates are generally produced from a mix of polymers but can also be created from vinyl or other comparable materials. Laminating your documents prevents them from creasing or wrinkling by keeping out dust, water, and oily fingerprints.

What Is a Laminating Pouch?

A “laminating pouch” comprises two sheets of laminate film joined by a sealed edge on one end to form a pouch or pocket. You lift the top layer and center your document inside. To create the final seal on the pouch, you run the pouch through a thermal tabletop laminator. The use of heat and pressure seals the document inside. If you leave at least a 1/8″ sealed edge around all four sides of your document, you will have all-around protection.

Finding the Right Lamination Pouch Size

Laminating pouches come a multitude of different sizes to fit the most common document sizes. Since lamination pouches must be bigger than the inserted document to produce a perfect seal, there are a few criteria to follow when deciding the ideal pouch size for your document. A 1/8-inch border is a necessary minimum for the pouch to seal correctly. The simplest approach to figure out which laminating pouch to use for your insert is to measure it and then add 1/4 inch in terms of length and height. The resulting measurements will determine the ideal laminating pouch size for your insert. If your document is conventionally sized (such as a letter-sized sheet or a business card), you’ll probably be able to locate a pouch that will suit it perfectly.

Benefits of Lamination Pouches

The following are the main advantages of pouch lamination:

Lamination improves the life of printed materials and allows them to withstand several uses.
Fingerprints, spills, stains, rips and wrinkles, marks and abrasions, oil, grease, and dirt are all protected by lamination.
Lamination can also be used to protect bookmarks and maps, signage and rules, and training materials.

Laminating pouches have a wide range of applications and are likely to remain popular for a long time. This is one of the few techniques for preserving posters, certificates, papers, and other items that is both effective and simple. Do you need a laminating pouch for your important documents? Contact us today, we would love to help!