- Home
- Computers and Technology
- Comparing the Fellowes Jupiter JL-125 and GBC Heatseal H425 Laminators
Comparing the Fellowes Jupiter JL-125 and GBC Heatseal H425 Laminators
- By Jeff McRitchie
- Published 07/3/2011
- Computers and Technology
- Unrated
Jeff McRitchie
Jeff McRitchie is the director of Marketing for http://www.mybinding.com/. He has written more than five hundred articles on topics related to binding machines, binding supplies, presentation covers, ring binders, index tabs, laminators, laminating pouches, roll film, shredders and more.
View all articles by Jeff McRitchie
Both Fellowes and GBC make some very good laminators, including ones for use in larger offices. Two such devices are the Fellowes Jupiter JL-125 and the GBC HeatSeal H425. Here is a look at these two machines as well as a suggestion as to which one you should get for your workplace.
The Jupiter JL-125:
* This machine has a feed opening that's 12.5 inches wide. It is great for wide-format items including menus and placemats.
* The JL-125 warms very quickly. It will be ready for use in just 4 minutes. You will know you can begin using it because a green light will go on. (You will also hear a beeping noise.) Plus, this device can laminate up to 19 inches of material in just one minute, so it operates quickly in all senses of the word.
* This machine lacks adjustable speeds, but it does have 5 different temperature settings including one for cold lamination. This machine has four rollers which virtually guarantees that all of your documents will be laminated perfectly.
* This laminator can handle pouches that are up to 7 mil in thickness. Due to its cold setting, it will also accept pressure-sensitive pouches. However, this machine isn't compatible with mounting boards.
* The JL-125 has a reverse mode in case your pouch gets jammed or misaligned. It also has an automatic shut-off feature to reduce wear and tear on the motor, as well as prevent overheating.
* You can open up this laminator like an ink-jet printer to clean the rollers and remove any misfed pouches
. There aren't very laminators available with this feature.
* Finally, the JL-125 comes with a starter pack of 3 mil laminating pouches.
The GBC HeatSeal H425:
* Like the above mentioned product, the H425 has 12.5" feed opening. However, it does operate a bit more slowly, laminating up to 15 inches of material per minute.
* This device has adjustable temperature settings that are selected via a rotary dial. There are several hot settings, as well as a cold one.
* The H425 can handle more laminating pouches that the JL-125 because it has the ability to accept ones that are 10 mil thick.
* This laminator heats up in 5 minutes, which is a minute longer than the JL-125's warm-up time. The machine will beep at you when it's ready to be used and you can see how much time is left in the warm-up process thanks to an LED display.
* Like the Fellowes' machine, the H425 has an automatic shut-off feature so the motor won't overheat.
* The H425 also has four rollers for beautiful, flawless results. There's also a reverse mode to use in case a pouch jam occurs.
The final word:
These are both fantastic laminators and each one would be a great addition to any office. However, the Fellowes Jupiter JL-125 definitely is a better choice than the GBC HeatSeal H425 due to its faster warm-up time and because you can open the machine up to clean it. The inclusion of a pack of pouches is a nice addition because it will allow you to begin laminating right away. So, if you're in the market for a good laminator for your office, get the JL-125.
The Jupiter JL-125:
* This machine has a feed opening that's 12.5 inches wide. It is great for wide-format items including menus and placemats.
* The JL-125 warms very quickly. It will be ready for use in just 4 minutes. You will know you can begin using it because a green light will go on. (You will also hear a beeping noise.) Plus, this device can laminate up to 19 inches of material in just one minute, so it operates quickly in all senses of the word.
* This machine lacks adjustable speeds, but it does have 5 different temperature settings including one for cold lamination. This machine has four rollers which virtually guarantees that all of your documents will be laminated perfectly.
* This laminator can handle pouches that are up to 7 mil in thickness. Due to its cold setting, it will also accept pressure-sensitive pouches. However, this machine isn't compatible with mounting boards.
* The JL-125 has a reverse mode in case your pouch gets jammed or misaligned. It also has an automatic shut-off feature to reduce wear and tear on the motor, as well as prevent overheating.
* You can open up this laminator like an ink-jet printer to clean the rollers and remove any misfed pouches
* Finally, the JL-125 comes with a starter pack of 3 mil laminating pouches.
The GBC HeatSeal H425:
* Like the above mentioned product, the H425 has 12.5" feed opening. However, it does operate a bit more slowly, laminating up to 15 inches of material per minute.
* This device has adjustable temperature settings that are selected via a rotary dial. There are several hot settings, as well as a cold one.
* The H425 can handle more laminating pouches that the JL-125 because it has the ability to accept ones that are 10 mil thick.
* This laminator heats up in 5 minutes, which is a minute longer than the JL-125's warm-up time. The machine will beep at you when it's ready to be used and you can see how much time is left in the warm-up process thanks to an LED display.
* Like the Fellowes' machine, the H425 has an automatic shut-off feature so the motor won't overheat.
* The H425 also has four rollers for beautiful, flawless results. There's also a reverse mode to use in case a pouch jam occurs.
The final word:
These are both fantastic laminators and each one would be a great addition to any office. However, the Fellowes Jupiter JL-125 definitely is a better choice than the GBC HeatSeal H425 due to its faster warm-up time and because you can open the machine up to clean it. The inclusion of a pack of pouches is a nice addition because it will allow you to begin laminating right away. So, if you're in the market for a good laminator for your office, get the JL-125.
