O
ne of the options that some printers are considering is cutting and
engraving systems. This allows them to not only expand their product
offering to their existing clients, but given the versatility and flexibility of
these devices, also to open up new business avenues. This gives them
the ability to counter some of the negatives they may have experienced in their
core business over the past few years.
As with any type of technology nowadays, there are different types of technology
for companies to choose from, while the purchasing criteria are as varied as the
uses of the machines and the substrates which they can cut. Some people opt
for laser cutters, while others opt for mechanical cutters.
Advanced Machinery in Jet Park offers the market both options according to
the needs, specifications and preferences of the customer. Eric Yin, the owner
of Advanced Machinery, knows that it is only a matter of time before some
forward-thinking packaging and printing companies see the advantages
which this type of system can offer. He commented, ‘Printers and packaging
manufacturers are looking for new products for their customers. Cut and
engraved products will allow them to show their customers new opportunities.’
Advanced Machinery has, in just a few months, managed to install a number
of systems in and around Johannesburg, and is looking to open an office in
Cape Town to be able to take advantage of the high levels of interest it has
received from the Western Cape.
One of its customers in Johannesburg is Intense Design, a company which
specialises in event stage planning and building. Four months ago Intense
Design took a leap of faith and installed a cutting and engraving machine from
Advanced Machinery, not really sure whether it would be able to do everything
that Eric promised. Within one month it became obvious to the team that Eric
had under-sold the machine. Said Mark Preiss, ‘The cutter is only limited by
your imagination. If the finished product can be drawn and plotted, it can be
cut. We started out producing very basic cutting projects but soon realised
that we were not using it to its full potential.’
Prior to the installation of the cutting machine, all cutting work at Intense Design
was done manually. This often involved multiple cuts to achieve a single result.
With the cutting machine the element or design to be cut can be programmed
into the computer and then the only manual intervention which is required is to
place and remove the substrate onto the vacuum table. Optional automatic dust
or vapour removal means that the work surface and environment remains clean
and safe for the operator. Since installation, the highly labour intensive process of
cutting has meant that the six people employed to do this are now freed up to do
less strenuous finishing processes, thereby speeding the overall production time.
The cutting machines are available in a range of cutting heights and sizes
designed to allow different sizes of products to be cut. Mark added, ‘We have
been experimenting more and more with the machine and everything we have
tried has been easy to handle with our expectations being exceeded. We did
have some initial problems understanding the capabilities of the machine, but
Eric knows and understands the machine and he has helped us to find the right
solutions when we have had an issue or a particularly tricky job to handle.’
The range of materials that the cutting machine can handle is virtually
unlimited. As long as a cutting bit can go through the material it can be cut.
Not only that, but given the fact that all jobs can be stored as a cutting
programme, repeatability is as simple as reloading the job onto the computer
and pressing the start button.
For printing and packaging manufacturers the only hindrance to adopting the use
of this technology is the limitation of imagination. By finding new and exciting
ways of meeting clients’ needs or providing them with alternative offerings,
they can draw on innovation to expand their business and once again regain the
unique factor which originally set them apart from all of their competitors.
Contact Mark Preiss at Intense Design to find out more about how the
Advanced Machinery cutting system has helped to change its business.
E-mail
or call
011 826 1786
.
For more information on the CNC Routers and other CNC machines
contact Advanced Machinery on
072 222 2211
or visit the informative
website
Mark Preiss with the CNC machine at Intense Design
EasyRoute 2000x3000mm 9kw spindle CNC Router with Linear ATC 16 tools
Printed on 128 gsm Hi-Q Titan Gloss supplied by
I
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