According to Freidheim managing director Mark Bristow, the Junior 36 completes the Komfi range.

He said: "When they told us about it, we thought it was perfect because it was positioned at a level they had never offered before.

"They cover everything all the way up, but they haven't had the entry level. We told them that this is what a lot of our customers were asking for and they said 'as it happens, this is what we are working on'.

"The word 'cheap' has so many negative connotations, but the way we see it, this is the first well made, reliable machine that is available at such a low price."

Komfi's new machine has dimensions of 2,120x770mm and is targeted at B3 companies that require a short-run laminating option.

According to Bristow, it can handle digitally produced output and is suitable for products such as brochures, flyers, business cards, book and magazine covers.

Its features include infeed rollers and guides to control the sheets prior to delivery into the laminating unit, a system of guiding plates to "strengthen" thin paper before lamination to guard against wrinkling and automatic sheet overlap control and sheet separation using the built-in perforator.

The laminator can handle a maximum sheet size of 360x600mm, as well as paper weights from 115-600gsm, and boasts a top speed of 16 m/min, or 1,500 A3 sheets per hour.