The Mini Digital, a 25,000 B3 unit, has a small 2.2x1.1m footprint and a nip pressure of nine tonnes.

"Digital printers have needed a laminator with high nip pressure, because oil and toner do not allow good adhesion between print and the film," said Autobond managing director John Gilmore.

The 4,500sph thermal laminator uses a Heidelberg feeder and a Siemens PLC and inverter feeders. It's built to a similar specification as the firm's B1 machines with 30mm side plates and 240mm diameter rollers. Other features include digital sheet counters, adjustable anti-curl bar, and pneumatic clutch.

The Mini Digital will be officially launched at Digital Print World in October, but the first machine has already been installed at St Ives-based digital print outfit CLE Printing. Barrelfield Digital in Surbiton and another unnamed firm have also ordered models.