What does the machine do?
It is a B1 landscape thermal laminator, capable of laminating one or both sides of the sheet in one pass.

Why did you choose this machine?
We have operated an Autobond laminator for 10 years and have had fantastic service from both it and Autobond. We were being offered so much laminating that we were turning work away, so we’ve actually invested in a new Mini 76 TH, as well as the new Mini 105 TPH. Our positive history with Autobond meant we didn’t look anywhere else. The two new laminators give us huge flexibility and capacity.

What features do you particularly like?
The well-built construction of the machine allows a significant amount of pressure to be created and this, in turn, enables excellent adhesion and fast running speeds. The Heidelberg feed head is a great feature and we like the ability to wheel a pallet of work to the feeder and start running.  

Is there anything that you dislike?
No – it does what it’s supposed to and does it well.

How fast is it?
The throughput speed obviously depends upon the job and the stock, but we often achieve 60m a minute. This gives us the ability to produce first class laminating at 5,000 B1 sheets an hour.

How reliable is it?
We had a couple of teething problems at the beginning, but Autobond quickly sorted out the issues and the machine has operated perfectly ever since.  

What’s the quality like?
Brilliant. You’ll not see laminating any better than this on the market.

How easy is it to use?
The Mini 105 TPH is straightforward and needs only one operator. It’s easy to make ready for different jobs, so short and long runs can be handled efficiently. The touch controls allow most settings to be carried out from one position.  

How much time has it saved?
Despite being purchased 10 years ago, our previous Autobond laminator was quite fast. However, we could probably laminate 2,000 B1 sheets about 20 minutes faster with the new model.

Has it won you any new work?
We can handle all of the laminating work that we were turning away before and have won additional work on top.  We now handle a regular job of passenger safety cards for a major airline and a single run can be as many as 100,000 B1 sheets. We didn’t have the capacity to take this on before.

Does it offer value for money?
Without a doubt. The new B1 Mini 105 TPH was not much more expensive than the model we purchased 10 years ago.

Were there any difficulties experienced during the installation or after?
The installation went very well. Autobond left us with our original laminator when the first Mini arrived and only removed it when the second Mini was delivered. They’re extremely helpful and allowed us to use the Mini 105 TPH  we were purchasing while it was still at Autobond’s Heanor factory. Hence, we could laminate work we didn’t have the capacity for at our Nottingham premises.  It also meant we had most of our training before the machine was delivered.

What about the pre- and after-sale service?
You can’t fault Autobond when it comes to looking after people. They’re a family-run business, just like us, and they genuinely care.

Under what circumstances would you buy another?
We currently have a significant amount of laminating capacity so I can’t see the need to buy another machine for quite a long time. However, I would have no hesitation in going back to Autobond again.

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CONCLUSION
User’s verdict    
Speed 5/5
Quality 5/5
Reliability 4/5
Value for money 5/5

Supplier’s Response    
John Gilmore of Autobond says: “We think the B1 Mini 105 TPH will become our bestselling laminator. We took a model to Graph Expo, sold it off the stand and won orders for another seven. The main comment we heard during the exhibition was about the small footprint, which shows how important floor space is to printers.”
Price From £78,000
Contact Autobond 01773 530520