Heat assist (also referred to as "top assist") laminators fall into more or less of a hybrid category: perhaps the most accurate description would be cold roller laminators with a key value add. Equipped with a low heat top roller, heat assist laminators are basically cold laminators designed to upgrade the performance of pressure-sensitive films by adding a small amount of heat to the production equation. As the film passes through the roller nip, the top roller heats the adhesive in the pressure-sensitive films to a relatively low 120 - 125F, allowing the adhesive to "flow" a bit. This improves contact with the graphic substrate and minimizes the phenomenon known as silvering. Silvering takes place when tiny micro-bubbles are trapped between the media and film adhesive.

As a result of this recent tweak to an otherwise mature technology, heat-assist laminators - as well as laminating films engineered to perform well on them - have increased in popularity. Although heat asist machines enhance the performance of laminating and mounting with pressure sensitive materials, they are not designed to process thermal films.

BindRite dealers represent such respected heat assist laminator manufacturers as GBC, Royal Sovereign and D&K.