Page 14 - BOSS Today Issue 14

Special report Binders and laminators

he story of binders and
laminators is very much Binders have in the past been
ta story of two sides. a key part of any UK office
On the one side, according to
those in the market, you have a
product that has been increasing
in popularity year on year, and
looks set to stay popular enough
to withstand whatever changes
may happen in modern office
culture. On the other side
you have a once proud office
product that has declined in
popularity and usefulness,
although it may still have a role
in niche corners of the market.
As to which is which, the DUPLO
answer may surprise you. The
laminator is the product that
everybody agrees is really going
places. The latest research from
the GfK consultancy reveals that
sales values of laminators in
the UK were up 0.7 per cent in
the first six months of this year
compared with the same period
last year, despite the ongoing
recession and despite a more
dramatic 6.8 per cent drop in
sales volumes.
Hugh Darcy, vice president for
global marketing for binders and
laminators at multinational office
products manufacturer Fellowes, was essential. And 75 per cent isn’t so sure about the impact models by labelling them
thinks even this might be too say they use one on a daily or of cold sealing – an innovation specifically as heavy duty, for
cautious a picture. “The laminator weekly basis.” introduced from America which light use, and so on,” he says. “But
market is in growth. We are in he claims has not proved as auto-lamination is the current
growth in both Germany and UK, Multifunctional popular in Europe because the big thing.”
although we may have stalled GFK suggests that the rise in seal produced can be easily Indeed it is. Leitz’s relatively
in Spain and Italy for obvious the value of the market – and broken and is not waterproof. new iLAM Easy range offers
reasons,” he says. the increasing discrepancy “We don’t even sell cold seal in much the same technology.
What’s more the company between value and volume - is Europe any more,” he says, “and On the wider scale, Darcy
has just completed market down to producers bringing we are the market leader.” says laminators have in fact
research of 1,800 customers, in more multifunctional machines But he agrees that innovation been increasing in popularity
the UK, France, and Germany, on to the market which have in technology is certainly for the past two decades, ever
which suggests that, far from a higher average sale price helping to keep the value since they made the crossover
being a product that is only (ASP) – particularly machines in the market up. The latest from what was originally a
brought out for special events which can do both hot and cold innovation he thinks is auto- product mainly for print finishing
(such as making badges) and sealing. “In the business channel lamination – machines which companies and first started
is then stowed away at the hot and cold laminators hold a can automatically adjust their appearing within office supply
back of the office cupboard, higher ASP of £112 compared speed to allow for different catalogues in the early 1990s.
the laminator has an important to the hot seal of £48,” says Sarah thicknesses of paper and pouch. He admits that the market
place on the desks of today. “Our Wheeler, an account manager on Such machines, he says, have went through something of a
research shows that 66 per cent the office and stationery panel overcome difficulties many crisis some eight years ago when
of our 1,800 respondents regard at GfK. users had in understanding more and more customers found
laminators as an ‘essential’ office Esselte UK includes a cold exactly how they were to make their machines were jamming
tool,” he says. “I thought it would seal laminator within its range such adjustments themselves. too often – a problem he puts
actually be the Post-It note that in the UK, but at Fellowes Darcy “We make it easier to sell these down to too much reliance on

18 BOSS TODAY | September/October 2012 July/August 2012 | BOSS TODAY 19