The One-Two Punch

Round 3

A boxer, regardless of his competitor, would never enter the ring with 10-lb. weights tied to his arms. In-line laminators, though, have a potentially damaging added weight—the other in-line equipment. Runzel commented, "Whether it is people, materials, or equipment, no process is any better than its weakest link. This is important to consider with in-line and off-line laminating." The in-line process includes other steps before lamination, mainly printing and drying. "Any problem with one process—mechanical or electrical, inherent technical limitations of the equipment or application, etc.—will have a negative effect on the other." If the printing press goes down, so does the laminator, and vice versa.