Page 18 - BOSS Today Issue 29

Special Report - Binding & Laminating

are just replaced by one simple
touch control panel, and all you
do is simply select the micron of
your pouch, which then sets the
speed and temperature.” Acco,
Machin points out, has in its GBC
Fusion line “a couple of machines
which you can simply set to
‘Auto’ and they will read the
pouch thickness for themselves
as you put it in. You don’t even
need to pre-set the machine.”
Other innovation is coming
through in terms of the pouches
themselves: says Machin, “A lot of
the focus of the manufacturers
over the coming years will be
on educating users on how
this product can be used
innovatively. For example,
we have specific application
pouches – patches those that
are designed to make signs and
pouches that are designed to be Renz range of binders
written on if you are creating a
training aid.”
“I would may have 30 pieces of artwork such as sales and marketing or
Education, Education, that need laminating after the HR. So it should be a “must have”
Education definitely say kids have gone home, ready to product for any dealer.”
Again, as with binders, it is the that the be put up the next day, so speed In addition, of course, there is
education market which is comes into it. Ease of use is also that ‘upgrade path’: if a customer
seen as one of the largest and education sector important here: they don’t want has a laminator that is four or five
certainly the fastest-growing a laminator that’s got a hundred years old, then the technology
user segment at present, as Jolly is the biggest different buttons on, because a will have changed significantly
points out: “In a school or college and fastest- wide variety of people may be since they bought it, because
you tend to have a small printing using it.” today’s versions are much faster,
room, and you need to produce growing slicker and simpler to use.
things quickly that either go And Repeat And, of course, there is the
outside or are child friendly, and market. Looking ahead, the general promise of repeat consumables
that lends itself to lamination.” Potentially, feeling is that the laminator business, as Smith points out:
Smith agrees: “I would definitely market will see modest value “The big selling point for an OP
say that the education sector is every class can growth in the foreseeable future, dealer is the repeat business: if
the biggest and fastest-growing partly because of the recovering you are an OP dealer and you’re
market. Potentially, every class have a economy. Again, manufacturers selling these products, are
can have a laminator, and as the laminator, and feel that OP dealers can certainly offering great customer service,
schools get bigger, so do the benefit from this, since, as your website works well and you
laminators: a primary school, for as the schools Machin points out, “Virtually can guarantee next day delivery,
example, won’t tend to have a every single one of a dealer’s then customers will come back
reprographic department, but get bigger, so customers has a requirement to you time after time to get
secondary schools and colleges do the for a laminator, whether they their pouches and film.”
will.” know it or not! We know that
Indeed, it is the schools laminators.” there are specific verticals where Martin Wilde – the author of this
market, Smith feels, which is there is heavy use – for example article - is Managing Director of
especially appreciative of those David Smith, Vivid education, warehousing, finance OP market research specialists
developments in terms of etc – but we know also that Martin Wilde Associates Ltd
speed and ease of use: “Within within any size of organisation (www.martinwildeassociates.com).
the schools market there is a there are locations where a
requirement for speed: a teacher laminator is likely to be found,

18 BOSS TODAY | September/October 2015

BOSS issue 29 BINDING.indd 10 08/09/2015 11:35