GBC is the leading manufacturer of laminating and binding machines, and with the HeatSeal H210 Pouch Laminator, it's easy to see why they're the industry leader. The H210 is a terrific machine that's ideal for the home or small office user who's looking to laminate letters, legal documents, photos, and other items up to 8.5" wide. The machine produces professional-looking results and is easy to operate. And best of all, it's very reasonably priced, making this a fantastic choice for users who are on a budget.

GBC's H210 consistently produces flawless, bubble-free lamination. The machine makes it easy to laminate small documents (such as business cards and standard 4 x 6" photos), as well as larger items using letter (9 x 11.5") and legal size (9 x 14.5") pouches, thanks to the laminator's 9.5" throat. GBC has made this machine user-friendly by including its patented ReadyGlo technology, which turns the laminator's throat green when the machine is ready to use. It only takes five minutes for the machine to warm up, which is about average for this type of laminator.

The H210 is designed for carrier usage, which prevents adhesive from building up on the machine's rollers, thus preventing pouch jams and possible machine damage. A jam release lever is provided to help the user quickly and easily remove the carrier if it should become jammed in the laminator. This is a welcome feature and it makes the unit especially easy to operate and maintain. A variable temperature setting that allows for cold laminating is also included. The H210 also features a modern design that will complement any home or office decor, and it's small enough to fit on any desk. The machine also comes with a limited two-year warranty.

The H210 does have a couple of minor drawbacks which do not make it an excellent choice for heavy-duty users or commercial finishing applications. First, the H210 can only handle pouches that are 3mil or 5mil thick. Organizations that need to use thicker pouches will have to choose a different machine. Also, the H210's 9.5" throat is not recommended for use with long side-sealed letter laminating pouches because it's important to feed pouches into a laminator sealed side first. The H210 also can't laminate large documents, such as those measuring 11 x17" (A machine with a 12.5" or 13" throat would be needed to laminate those type of items). Most home users won't need to laminate large documents and posters. However, the size limitation is definitely something to consider before purchasing this machine. Finally, the H210 has a rather small exit tray that's barely big enough to hold a standard 8.5 x 11" document. If you are laminating more than a few sheets of paper you will most likely need to remove the items from the exit tray as you go.

While the H210 may have a few shortcomings, it's really a moot point because this is a laminator that's marketed towards users who are looking for a well-built, entry-level machine to fulfill basic laminating needs. And on that level, the H210 is a winner. This is a great machine at a great price for the basic home or office laminator, and it handles basic types of laminating projects beautifully.