Lamination and the legacy of Fellowes Beswick
The digital printing revolution has fundamentally reshaped the commercial print landscape. Today, print operations across the globe boast state-of-the-art digital presses. These presses deliver shorter runs, variable data capability and lightning-fast turnaround times. As a result, they gain a true competitive edge. Let’s explore where lamination, laminating machines, film and different brands come into play.
You’ve made a significant investment in front-end technology and mastered high-quality digital output. But when that stock leaves the press, the focus shifts to a crucial finishing factor: fast turnaround lamination. Achieving speedy completion is vital, as it’s how you keep customers happy, whilst maintaining strict control over the final quality.
‘Having the right equipment and film often introduces no costly delays, logistical complexity and an unnecessary squeeze on thin profit margins,’ explained Andy Wood, Sales Director at Fellowes Beswick.
‘Imagine unlocking the full potential of your digital investment with your own print finishing lamination solution. Bringing lamination in-house, especially for key formats like A3, is not just about saving money; it’s about achieving higher flexibility and mastering the profitable demands of shorter runs.’
‘More critically, the return on investment (ROI) for this upgrade is compelling,’ added Brandon Jordaan, Fellowes Beswick’s Export and Inland Sales Manager. ‘The costs saved by keeping high-volume lamination work in-house this season can generate rapid payback.
Furthermore, securing your own equipment now positions you to capitalise on increases in profitable work in the new financial cycle of January 2026. This is a strategic investment that pays dividends and secures future capacity.’
Your partner in seamless finishing
For any print business ready to close the outsourcing loophole and transform their finishing capability from a profit leak into a powerful differentiator, a solution is at hand. This is the domain of Fellowes Beswick. The company's history, dating back to 1976, is inextricably linked to protecting and perfecting the printed word. They focus on transforming raw paper and ink into artefacts built to last.
As a market leader in finishing solutions, the company offers a dynamic, comprehensive range of lamination equipment and consumables. From robust, high-speed industrial models to versatile, compact systems perfect for on-demand digital work, the company has the precise tools and expertise to elevate your operation and suit your every need. Therefore, they guarantee the perfect finish, in-house, every time.
Fellowes Beswick offers a tiered arsenal of machines to align precisely with a client’s scale, budget and growth aspirations. Andy explained, ‘There’s a fine line between overcapitalising and underinvesting. Talk to us. Tell us what you’re trying to produce and what your budget is. We’ll help find the right solution.’
The right machine for the mission: Fellowes Beswick’s arsenal
Skylam (The Agile Starter):
Manufactured in Korea, Skylam laminators are compact, versatile and cost-effective, ideal for small to mid-sized shops. They support hot and cold lamination, foiling and wide-format jobs, making them well-suited for brochures, book covers and signage.
Entry-level models typically start from around R90K to R150K depending on configuration and features.
Stellar (The Dependable Value):
Bridging between Skylam and Komfi is Fellowes Beswick’s private-label brand, Stellar, which was developed to meet the needs of print professionals across Southern and East Africa. Stellar balances performance, finishing quality and affordability. As a result, customers gain access to reliable equipment (approximately R150K to R250K+).
In addition, consumables without a premium price tag. With less downtime, improved efficiency and local service support, Stellar aims to help businesses deliver results every time.
Komfi (The Industrial Powerhouse):
Based in the Czech Republic, Komfi delivers precision-engineered laminators designed for commercial and industrial environments. These machines offer high-speed output, inline integration with digital presses and advanced automation features. Mid-range models start from roughly R450K. Meanwhile, industrial systems like the Sagitta or Sirius reach R1 million and above, depending on additional requirements, scale and automation level.
‘Whether it’s a single pouch laminator or an industrial-scale finishing line, we supply, install, train and support,’ Brandon asserted. ‘More importantly, we guide you to the right solution, from your first purchase to your next big upgrade.’
BOPP and speciality films
BOPP (or OPP) is the agile, cost-effective champion of high-volume commercial printing. It is lightweight and incredibly flexible. Therefore, it is the perfect choice for laminating everyday prints like brochures, posters and business cards.
‘For high-volume jobs like flyers, where budget and speed are key, BOPP is your non-negotiable choice,’ Andy stated. BOPP’s versatility comes from its myriad finish options: from dazzling gloss and subtle matte to luxurious velvet soft-touch and rugged scuff-free films. Its lower cost and excellent compatibility with both offset and digital printing make it the preferred film for swift, large-scale production runs.
Options include:
– BOPP Gloss and Matt Film: Has a superior finish, engineered for single /both sides, high-speed lamination.
– BOPP Digital Gloss and Matt: Specially engineered for lamination of digitally printed surfaces.
– BOPP Velvet Soft Touch: Engineered for a luxurious velvet finish and is scuff resistant.
– BOPP Scuff-Free Matt: This BOPP-based film has excellent resistance to scuff marks and scratches.
The Fellowes Beswick journey: Earning client’s trust
The company’s experience dates back to the simple yet vital task of laminating ID cards; a foundation built on the critical need for security and durability.
Today, that focus has evolved into a comprehensive mastery of print finishing, underpinned by serious infrastructure, including the investment in a new world-class in-house high-speed slitter. This ensures film orders can be cut to custom sizes quickly and accurately. As a result, the lamination process is optimized for every customer’s unique workflow.
This dedication has earned the trust of countless clients, as reflected in their testimonials:
A Production Manager from Zambia, thrilled with a new Komfi Sagitta 76 laminator, remarked: ‘The machine has exceeded my expectations in terms of performance, quality and reliability’.
‘I also appreciate the excellent service and support your team provided throughout the process. Thank you for delivering a great product and outstanding customer experience.’
An Accounts Manager from Johannesburg, hailing the machine as a game-changer, stated: ‘Not only has the machine been amazing, the service that we have received from Fellowes Beswick has been exceptional, which is very rare to find in business these days.’
This is the essence of Fellowes Beswick: selling machines, but delivering reliability and partnership.
Best practice for perfect outcomes
The pursuit of the perfect finish is a battle against common technical issues that can derail quality and productivity. These include:
Silvering: Trapped air between the film and the print, leaving a cloudy, amateur look.
Curling: Occurs when the film and paper contract or expand unevenly due to heat.
Delamination: When the film peels off due to poor adhesion from incompatible coatings or low-quality glue.
Static build-up: Problematic with PET films, leading to misfeeds and misalignment.
Wrinkling: Takes place if the rollers aren’t set up properly or the tension is uneven.
The Fellowes Beswick protocol
To combat these issues, Fellowes Beswick advocates a stringent protocol of best practices:
– Cure time is critical: Never rush the process. Always allow ink – especially UV and solvent varieties – to fully dry and cure before lamination to prevent smudging or bleeding.
– Match and test: Adhesion is everything. Matching the right film to the specific paper and ink is crucial. Conduct small-batch testing to catch issues like silvering before full production.
– Pressure and temperature: Regular calibration of roller pressure and temperature is non-negotiable for avoiding wrinkling or delamination.
– Static control: Use anti-static brushes or ionisers to reduce static, which affects feeding and alignment.
– Quality is everything: Using high-quality films with consistent adhesive coatings makes a significant difference in overall performance.
Read more about Fellowes Beswick here.
The mandate of maintenance: Protecting your investment
Consistent quality is born from disciplined care, which is why routine maintenance must be treated as an operational mandate and not just as an option.
– Purge the adhesive: Clean your rollers daily using isopropyl alcohol to aggressively prevent adhesive build-up.
– Lock down tension: Rigorously verify and adjust tension settings; inconsistent tension is the root cause of film wrinkling and curling.
– Demand sharpness: Inspect all blades and slitters; a dull blade results in wasted film so replace it immediately.
– Re-energise components: Lubricate all moving parts, giving special attention to components not covered by semi-automatic systems. Semi-automatic systems often self-lubricate.
– Verify the heat: Calibrate temperature sensors to ensure perfect thermal consistency.
– Hunt for flaws: Run dedicated test sheets specifically designed to expose nascent defects like silvering or delamination.
An annual planned service resets your machine’s performance:
– Complete renewal: Authorise the replacement of all worn rollers and belts. Do not wait for failure.
– Digital upgrade: Update relevant firmware (especially on advanced Komfi models) to secure the latest features.
– Expert audit: Utilise professional technicians to conduct a thorough inspection of all pneumatic and electrical systems.
‘These steps guarantee both the longevity of your asset and the reliability of your output. Remember, our service department stands ready to assist with any critical maintenance,’ Brandon stressed.
The final investment: Permanent control
The decision is clear. While your digital presses lead in print production, adding in‑house lamination is the logical next step. Time to completing your digital transformation, securing accelerated turnaround and maximum profit retention on every job.
‘Don’t let finishing be an afterthought; make it the hallmark of your quality. We offer the proven equipment and expertise needed to transform your finishing from a profit leak into a powerful competitive differentiator, guaranteeing the perfect result, in-house, every time,’ Andy concluded.
Now is the moment to secure your investment and capture the immediate ROI this season.
Position your business for robust growth and start owning your finishing.
For more information on the right lamination solution for your operation, peruse the online catalogue here:
https://fellowesza.co.za/catalogues/#pf-cat
Feel free to contact Fellowes Beswick’s expert team for a consultation today via our contact us page.
Original Article Appeared here within The Gapp Magazine.
