Digital Printing - Delamination issues

Hi, i am currently using a Xerox Docucolor 5000 to do digital prints.

After lamination, one of the job finishing which requires the printed material to be folded along the same line both ways caused delamination. ( bubbles of air apparently formed along the folded line)

Any ideas on what causes this problem and how i can stop it?

Thanks in advance.

 

unfortunately you cant, its one of the minor set backs of digital print.

 

Hi Plotter, do you have any ideas what exactly caused the delamination?

A colleague of mine told me that he had seen samples of digital prints which do not have delamination issues ( after folding on the same line both ways ). A supplier had also approached me some time back and claimed that he has a lamination process which solves the issue but his rates are rather exorbitant.

 

Digital color copies use either a fuser oil (older copiers) or a wax based toner (newer) that can cause delamination.

You probably want to talk to a laminate supplier and try a more agressive laminate, you might check out http://www.usi-laminate.com or GBC for instance, you can see there are different qualities. See if you can get a guarantee.

Alternatives include UV coating.

Ken Graham
CommunityPrinters.com

 

I have a wax base press and using low cost films without much issue. I can even do both cold or hot lamination. I believe the key into digital prints folding would be creasing which i rely on it greatly.

 

Hi k_graham,

The machine i am using uses fuser oil. Will try speaking to lamination suppliers as suggested. ( spoke to one today and they just said there is nothing they can do... gonna try more tomorrow. ) Thanks.



Hi kt89,

i do not quite understand what you meant by
"I believe the key into digital prints folding would be creasing which i rely on it greatly. "
could you kindly explain?

Thanks.

 

i use to have lamination problem especially on the folding portion, where air bubble starts to build-up in the folding area. to solve this, i tried various methods,and finally a creaser helps the folding and lamination.

fuser oil machine is a challenge to lamination, that's one of the reason we switch to wax based and ea toners.

 

We alway score card items before laminating so they fold where expected. We've also moved on to wax based Xerox 240 from a Docucolor 12 oil based. We've been buying a bit more premium laminate that requires lower temperatures as well I think about 195 to 200 degrees. It doesn't seem to hurt to continue running higher temperatures of 250 degree range but gives more guarantee the item has got up to temp and laminate will stick.

Ken Graham
CommunityPrinters.com