The firm (stand N3-C230) has created pneumatic versions of its existing Matrix MX-370 and MX-530 laminators, allowing faster production than on the standard models. 

Technical manager Gavin Ward said speeds could potentially double, depending on the type of substrate and film being used. “Printers can laminate their work even faster to get the job finished and back to the customer,” he said. 

Another benefit of the pneumatic versions is the ability to achieve cost savings by using standard laminating film on some digital print work, rather than specialist equivalents. 

Vivid has tested its own-brand Boss laminating film on digital print output containing solid black areas. The firm found that the pneumatic application of the film meant there was no undesirable ‘silvering’ of the output. 

Prices for the new machines start at £9,400 for the 375mm-wide MX-370 model. 

The UK-based designer and manufacturer of laminating kit has also reduced lead times by ‘re-shoring’ some aspects of its manufacturing process. Base models are manufactured in the Far East, and the pneumatic and duplex kits are then added at its Leicestershire facility. 

“Existing Matrix users can also upgrade, and we’ll give them a loan machine while we do it, so they don’t have to lose any production time,” explained marketing and communications manager David Smith. 

The duplex version of the MX-530 that was shown as a prototype last year is also now commercially available. 

Also new at Ipex is a fully working prototype of the MX-700 fully-pneumatic B1 device, which will ship this summer. It is targeted at litho and digital work, has a 1,000 sheet capacity feeder and can operate at up to 20m/min. 

It has a ball-park price of £20,000, but this will be confirmed at launch.