Dry-lam

What Dry-lam does

Dry-Lam is a US-based manufacturer of roll laminating machines and proprietary laminating films, operating as a brand subsidiary of Martin Yale Industries and headquartered in Wabash, Indiana. The company's product portfolio is organized around two principal machine families: the premium HLA Series (HLA-2301 and HLA-2501), which uses proprietary chip-reading technology to authenticate Dry-Lam's EverStick Film, and the Element Series (CL-27SD, CL-40SD, CL-27DX, CL-40DX, CL-27PR, CL-40PR), which addresses entry-level and mid-tier commercial laminating needs. Film consumables are a core revenue driver, particularly EverStick Film for the HLA platform and ALM Film engineered for digital toner-based print workflows.

The company sells through a combination of a US dealer/distributor network and direct channels, serving commercial print shops, K-12 educational institutions, offices, and dealer/reseller accounts. Hardware pricing tiers span entry-level Element units to premium HLA laminators, with optional extended warranties and accessories (e.g., automatic feed trays) generating incremental revenue. The proprietary chip-authentication architecture creates a structural consumables lock-in: HLA machines will only operate with Dry-Lam's own film, converting each installed machine into a recurring revenue stream.

Dry-Lam supports customers with an AI-powered chatbot ("Dexi") for 24/7 assistance, dealer location, and product queries. Product investment has been concentrated in the HLA platform, throughput improvements on the ALM3222, and SKU rationalization of legacy laminators. Geographic presence is US-only with no disclosed international expansion, and the company remains a small subsidiary operation within the broader Martin Yale corporate structure.

Name

Dry-lam

Legal name

Dry-Lam

Website

https://drylam.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Dry-Lam, a subsidiary of Martin Yale Industries, manufactures roll laminators and proprietary laminating films (including chip-authenticated EverStick Film) sold through US dealers to commercial print shops, K-12 schools, and offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Laminating Equipment

NAICS

Plastics Packaging Film and Sheet (including Laminated) Manufacturing (326112)

SIC

Printing Trades Machinery & Equipment (3555), Unsupported Plastics Film & Sheet (3081)

akta.pro primary industry

Multilayer Laminates & Composite Structures (Solvent/Water/Extrusion Laminated) (IMALABAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Plastic Films & Laminated Packaging Structures Manufacturing (IMANAEAD)

Keywords

• Commercial laminating equipment
• Laminating films supplies
• Wide format laminators
• Print finishing machines
• Automatic laminator machines

Headquarters

HQ city

Lenexa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Laminating Equipment Sales: Sale of commercial and education laminating machines including HLA Series (automatic high-speed laminators) and Element Series (standard, deluxe, professional models). Equipment sold as one-time purchase with optional extended warranties.
2. Laminating Film & Consumables: Proprietary laminating films (HLA Film, ALM Film, Element Series Film) sold as consumable rolls. Specialized polymer films designed for digitally printed media with various thicknesses (1.2-10 mil) and finishes (gloss, matte, silk matte).
3. Extended Warranty Programs: Extended warranty options in 1, 2, or 3-year periods covering parts only or parts and labor, tiered by equipment price level.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Dry-Lam manufactures and sells commercial-grade laminating machines and proprietary laminating films under two main product lines: the HLA Series (high-speed automatic commercial laminators such as HLA-2301 and HLA-2501) and the Element Series (American-made Standard, Deluxe, and Professional models in 27-inch and 40-inch widths). The portfolio also includes specialized polymer films (HLA Film, ALM Film, Element Series Film), pouches, and accessories sold through an authorized dealer network to print shops, educational institutions, and office environments.

Product overview

Dry-Lam, a brand of Martin Yale Industries, manufactures high-quality laminating machines and films. The product portfolio consists of two main laminator series: the HLA Series (HLA-2301 and HLA-2501) featuring high-speed commercial automatic laminators with speeds up to 68 inches per minute, and the Element Series comprising American-made Standard, Deluxe, and Professional models in both 27-inch and 40-inch widths. These are complemented by specialized film products including HLA Film with proprietary chip-reading technology, ALM Film designed for digital print adhesion, and Element Series Film in various formulations. Accessory offerings include pouches, transparency film, write-on films, equipment carts, and maintenance accessories. Several older models (ALM3222, ALM3230, SL27, 27STA, MPL27, and others) have been discontinued and replaced by newer models.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HLA-2301 Laminator High-speed commercial-grade automatic laminator with 68 inches per minute speed, up to 10 mil film thickness capability, and less than 5 minute warm-up time. Designed for high-volume print finishing operations.
• HLA-2501 Laminator Commercial-grade automatic laminator at an economical price point with 67 inches per minute speed, up to 5 mil film thickness, and about 6.5 minute warm-up. Modern color LCD screen and continuous feed mode for longer paper.
• Element Series Laminators American-made laminator series available in Standard, Deluxe, and Professional models at 27-inch and 40-inch widths with varying speeds, film thickness capabilities, and features. Targeted at education, commercial, and office environments.
• CL-27SD Element 27" Standard Laminator Standard 27-inch laminator with 3 feet per minute fixed speed, 1.5-3 mil film thickness, and 3/16 inch mounting capability.
• CL-40SD Element 40" Standard Laminator Standard 40-inch laminator with 3 feet per minute variable speed, 1.5-3 mil film thickness, variable temperature control, and safety shield.
• CL-27DX Element 27" Deluxe Laminator Deluxe 27-inch laminator with 9 feet per minute variable speed, 1.5-5 mil film thickness, and built-in horizontal trimmer.
• CL-40DX Element 40" Deluxe Laminator Deluxe 40-inch laminator with variable speed, film thickness, and deluxe features for wide format applications.
• CL-27PR Element 27" Professional Laminator Professional 27-inch laminator with 1.5-10 mil film thickness capability, 1" and 3" core sizes, cooling fans, and built-in horizontal trimmer.
• CL-40PR Element 40" Professional Laminator Professional 40-inch laminator with professional-grade features including cooling fans and heavy film capability for wide format work.
• HLA Film Specially formulated film for HLA-2301 and HLA-2501 laminators with proprietary chip-reading design for automatic temperature settings. Available in 1.5, 3.0, and 5.0 mil thickness in gloss and matte finishes.
• ALM Film Specialized polymer films designed for ALM automatic laminators, formulated with higher polyester-to-adhesive ratio for superior digital print adhesion. Available in gloss, matte, and silk matte finishes.
• Element Series Film Film rolls for Element Series laminators including Trade-Lam Co-Polymer, School-Lam, Super-Lam, and specialty films in various widths, lengths, and thicknesses.
• Pouches, Transparency & Write-On Film Laminating pouches, transparency film for copiers and inkjet printers, and write-on acetate sheets and rolls for presentations.
• DLLS29 Equipment Cart Heavy-duty steel equipment cart with locking doors, steel rod brace, and non-locking hard rubber casters for wide format laminators. Dimensions: 36" x 24" x 26.75".
• Extended Warranty Programs Extended warranty options in 1, 2, or 3-year periods covering parts only or parts and labor, tiered by equipment price level (Orange $50,000+, Purple $10,000-$49,999, Yellow $1,000-$9,999, Blue under $999).

Quantifiable outcome

• Speed up to 68" per minute (HLA-2301) with 200-sheet automatic feed capacity
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Martin Yale IndustriescoreOthersDry-Lam is a brand owned and operated by Martin Yale Industries (MYI). MYI is a manufacturer of paper handling equipment, print finishing machines, and related products based in Wabash, Indiana. The company owns multiple brands including MY Office Products, Count, Dyna-Cut, and Postmark.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Akiles Products: Akiles manufactures binding, creasing, and laminating equipment targeted at print finishing dealers. Its laminator line and dealer-channel strategy make it a direct comparable to Dry-Lam's commercial offerings.
• Banner American Products: Banner American builds commercial roll laminators and print finishing equipment for sign and display shops. Direct competitor in wide-format and commercial lamination equipment with similar dealer distribution.
• Tamerica: Tamerica manufactures roll laminators and pouch laminators sold through print finishing dealers. Its product portfolio and dealer-led GTM closely mirror Dry-Lam's HLA and Element series offerings.
• GBC (ACCO Brands): GBC, owned by ACCO Brands, is the dominant North American laminating machine and film brand. It directly competes with Dry-Lam across commercial, education, and office segments with overlapping product lines (roll and pouch laminators).

Broad incumbents

• Fellowes: Fellowes is a large office products manufacturer offering laminators (Saturn, Jupiter lines) alongside shredders, binding, and workspace products. Overlaps with Dry-Lam in office and education laminating but operates as part of a much broader portfolio.
• Scotch Thermal Laminator (3M): 3M's Scotch brand is a major player in thermal laminating pouches and entry-level laminators sold through office superstores. Competes with Dry-Lam in the office/education segment but is part of 3M's vast consumer goods portfolio.

Emerging players

• US Laminating: US Laminating sells commercial and office laminators and films, including wide-format roll laminators. Smaller scale than Dry-Lam but operates in the same print finishing niche with overlapping product categories.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCeVcU80wTpyjnqWltTuh5dw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/drylam
• Xx.com/DryLam

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dry-lam