What is the difference between pre coated film laminating machine and post printing?

Pre coated film laminating machine, as one of the important equipment in the field of post printing processing, plays an important role in improving the quality and added value of printed products.

With the continuous advancement of technology and the continuous development of the market, the application prospects of pre coated film laminating machines will be even broader.

So, what is the difference between pre coated film laminating machine and post printing?

Working principle and function

Pre coated film laminating machine:

Working principle: The pre coated film laminating machine mainly adheres a thin film (pre coated film) pre coated with adhesive to the surface of the printed product, forming a transparent and strong protective film. During this process, the printed material undergoes coating, drying, and curing steps to firmly adhere the pre coated film to the printed material.

Function: The main function is to enhance the glossiness, wear resistance, waterproofing, and chemical corrosion resistance of printed materials, thereby extending their service life and improving product quality. Pre coated film laminating machines are widely used in the post-processing of various printed materials.

Post printing (taking transfer printing machine post printing technology as an example):

Working principle: Post printing technology of transfer printing machine, also known as water transfer printing technology, utilizes the special coating on the surface of transfer paper and the adsorption effect on the surface of the printed object to transfer the printed pattern from the transfer paper to the printed object. The specific process includes mixing printing ink, printing on the surface of the transfer paper coating, wetting the surface of the printed object, adhering to the transfer paper and applying pressure, removing the transfer paper and drying it, and other steps.

Function: Mainly used for printing patterns or text on already formed objects such as plastic parts, metal parts, etc. The post printing technology of transfer printing machines has the characteristics of high flexibility and strong adaptability, and can perform fine printing on objects with complex shapes and surfaces.

Application Fields

Pre coated film laminating machine:

Mainly used in post-processing of various printed materials, such as book covers, packaging boxes, posters, promotional flyers, etc. By laminating, the appearance quality and durability of printed materials can be significantly improved.

Post printing (transfer printing machine post printing technology):

Widely used in electronic products, automotive parts, toys, gifts, cosmetics packaging and other fields. Products in these fields typically require printing patterns or text on their surface to increase aesthetics and added value.

Operational complexity and cost

Pre coated film laminating machine:

The operation is relatively simple, the preliminary preparation work is simple, there is no need to prepare a solution, and there is no need to heat up the drying tunnel to directly apply the pressure roller for lamination. Simply adjust the pressure, temperature, and speed of the press roller to proceed with the operation. However, for printed materials of different materials and specifications, it may be necessary to adjust different process parameters to achieve better results.
In terms of cost, the cost of a pre coated film laminating machine mainly depends on the price of the equipment itself and the cost of the pre coated film material. With the continuous advancement of technology and the intensification of market competition, the cost of pre coated film laminating machines has gradually decreased, enabling more enterprises to afford the investment in this process.

Post printing (transfer printing machine post printing technology):

The operation is relatively complex, requiring the adjustment of printing ink, control of printing pressure and time parameters to ensure printing quality. At the same time, different printing molds and fixtures may need to be designed for objects of different shapes and materials.

In terms of cost, the cost of post printing technology mainly depends on the cost of printing ink, transfer paper and other materials, as well as the investment cost of printing equipment. Due to its high flexibility and adaptability, post printing technology has advantages in small batch and multi variety production.