From cutting tables to multi-finishers, we update you on what’s new to the finishing side of the business.

Cutting and creasing tables are ideal for short runs or prototyping complex shapes. While typically slower than rotary or platen die cutters, they offer the advantage of no waiting time for metal die production and eliminate setup time and costs once the artwork le is loaded.

Digital drag knife cutters come in a range of sizes, from small desktop models for hobbyists to large 3x5m tables. Bigger tables from companies like Blackman & White, DYSS, Kongsberg, or Zünd are designed for large-format signage but can often cut multiple smaller sheets at once. If space or budget is a concern, smaller formats, such as B2 and B3, are available, and this discussion focuses on those.

UK-based Intec Printing Solutions developed its own line of affordable, small, sheet-fed (not flatbed) digital XY cutters under the ColorCut range. In 2022, Plockmatic acquired Intec, and its sister company Morgana now also sells some of these products under its brand.

The latest SRA3 ColorCut SC7000 offers increased downforce, supporting both a wheel creaser and a contour blade simultaneously. There’s also an XL version for B2 widths. These machines are mounted on mobile cabinets with a compact footprint, featuring high-capacity auto feeders and dual tool heads for cutting, creasing, and perforating. They handle paper, card (up to 350gsm), and synthetics, equipped with camera registration and barcode recognition.

Intec’s range also includes vacuum flatbed cutters in B3, B2, and B1 sizes. The latest B1 model, the FB1180T, is faster and features a four-tool head with 2.5kg downforce, capable of cutting card up to 1.2mm thick or corrugated materials up to 3mm. Additionally, the new FB780-T accommodates oversized B2+ formats or two SRA3 sheets at a time.

Morgana sells the FB780-T and the B2-format ColorCut FB9500 Pro-T, an autoloading atbed cutter with sheet feeder, belt transport, and tray delivery. Morgana also distributes the Italian Valiani manually loaded vacuum bed tables. The smallest model, the Invicta 80, handles 600x800mm sheets and comes with eight tools and camera registration.

Duplo offers the PFI Blade range of auto load/unload cutting tables, featuring belt transport, vacuum sections, camera registration, and QR code modules. The B3+ model handles The DSM-1000 B2 die-cutter from Duplo sheets up to 400x600mm, with a roll-to-sheet option for longer formats, cutting thicknesses up to 1.3mm and an autoloader capacity of 100 sheets.

The larger, faster PFI Blade B2+ handles sheets up to 800x600mm and materials up to 6mm thick, with the same 100-sheet capacity and a roll option. A B1 format prototype was showcased at drupa.

Hybrid Services distributes Mimaki’s cutting tables in the UK, including the entry-level CFL-605RT, a vacuum bed table for sheets up to 610x510mm. It runs at 423mm/second and accepts media up to 10mm thick with a reciprocating cutter.

Vivid’s VeloBlade range includes the Volta series, available in formats like SRA3 and SRA2, with vacuum feeding and camera registration. The larger Nexus series starts from 1.8×1.6m beds. Previewed at drupa, Vivid’s Veloton features multiple cutting heads on interchangeable bars, allowing three, five, or more identical shapes to be cut simultaneously, increasing throughput by up to 10 times, according to Vivid.

Multi-finishers provide versatile, modular solutions for a wide range of finishing tasks. First introduced by Duplo in the mid-2000s, they addressed the challenge posed by early digital presses, which produced short runs that required quick finishing for same-day or next-day dispatch.

In the early 2000s, Morgana and Duplo had already developed small, digital-friendly folders, creasers, booklet makers, and trimmers. However, Duplo was the first to combine many of these functions into one modular machine, the DC-645, which featured interchangeable cassettes for various finishing tasks in a single pass.

Initially designed for SRA3 sheets, the standard size for early digital presses, multi-finishers were later adapted to accommodate longer sheet sizes as presses evolved, though the width remained around 330mm. Despite the introduction of B2 format digital presses after 2008, most multi finishers didn’t follow suit. Instead, the common approach is to cut B2 sheets in half for finishing on SRA3 machines.

Duplo’s DC-20000 (or 20K) addresses this by offering a B2-format slitter-trimmer that cuts larger sheets into smaller formats for finishing, working inline with models like the DC-648 or DC-746. It handles output sizes ranging from 190mm to 370mm wide and 370mm to 750mm long. Similarly, Horizon’s SmartStacker works inline or nearline with a B2 press, cutting B2 sheets down to A3 or A4 sizes and performing additional tasks.

Although the term “multi-finisher” may sound broad, it accurately describes these versatile machines. In the UK, Duplo dominates the market, along with Morgana (which resells Japanese Uchida models) and IFS, which distributes the Horizon SmartSlitter. These machines are perfect for short runs, working with individual sheets that require minimal setup, typically just adjusting the lengthwise wheel tools.

Duplo’s multi-finisher range has expanded over the years, from the entry-level DS-446 cutter-creaser (with optional perforating and folding modules) to the high-performance DC-648 and DC-746 models. Duplo has also pioneered connectivity with printers, offering the optional Duplo DFE controller to integrate with Fiery Command Workstation for automatic setups via barcode scanning. Most models, from the DC-618 upward, use XML le sharing to generate a simplified “JDF-like” le for easier implementation. Full JDF integration is available on some models, designed to work with systems like HP Smartstream DFEs and EFI Impose.

The entry-level DC-446 is a long B3 format (330x660mm) cutter-creaser that can be expanded with additional modules. It’s simpler than higher-end models but operates at a much faster 60 sheets per minute. The DC-618 is a true multi-finisher, handling light production work with sheets up to 330x1000mm (or 1200mm with extended specs) and up to 400gsm. It performs up to six slits, 30 cross-cuts, and 20 creases per pass at speeds up to 23 sheets per minute.

The DC-648, which replaced the DC-646, features heavier-duty cutters and can handle longer sheets (370x710mm, or up to 1200mm with an optional banner tray). It’s designed for busy print shops, finishing up to 30 sheets per minute, with up to eight slitter wheels, 30 cross-cuts, and 20 creases per sheet. Duplo’s latest addition is the DC-F100 Integrated Folder, launched in January, which works with the DC-618 and DC-648 to streamline folding processes by eliminating separate device setups.

The flagship model, the DC-746, is tailored for high-speed presses, finishing up to 50 sheets per minute. It can accommodate up to 10 slitter wheels, but the maximum material weight is 350gsm. Its standard format size is 370x670mm, with an option for sheets up to 1000mm in length.

In addition to its own line, Duplo offers the Swiss-made Multigraf Touchline C-375+ range. These machines, which begin as creaser folders, can be configured with modular options to perform multi finishing tasks, including creasing, perforating, cutting, and folding.

Horizon’s SmartSlitter, sold in the UK through IFSL, is another powerful multi finisher. It handles creasing, perforating, and sheet cutting at up to 54 sheets per minute, similar in speed and price to Duplo’s DC-746. It supports sheets up to 370x670mm and 350gsm and offers features like skip perforation for coupons and JDF/PDF connectivity.

Morgana, known for small format creasers and booklet makers since the early 2000s, rebrands Uchida manufactured multi-finishers. The AeroCut X handles slitting, cross cutting, and creasing (with ve depth settings) as standard, with options for perforating, scoring, and slit-scoring. It feeds up to 83 sheets per minute and can output 11,000 standard business cards per hour from SRA3 sheets.

The AeroCut X Pro offers the same mechanics but comes with all options pre-configured, along with a 10-inch touchscreen on a movable arm. It can also be fitted with a jump perforation unit, ideal for creating multiple coupons on a single sheet.

Industry Insight

DIGITAL PRINTER CAUGHT UP WITH MARTYN TRAIN, MANAGING DIRECTOR, DUPLO UK, TO GET UPDATE ON THE COMPANY…

With what’s been a very hectic 2024, Duplo will concentrate on consolidating all of the fantastic product launches we’ve had this year in 2025. We’ve been making positive changes in our service infrastructure and offering and we’ll be looking for new products to sell via our consumables and e-commerce platform. We will also continue to work on our environmental strategy and the development of our Ecovadis rating.

It was absolutely amazing to welcome so many guests, especially from the UK to drupa 2024. We launched our new equipment ahead of the event to give enough time for our sales team to generate some interest, so we hit the ground running as the doors opened.

We had a fantastic show with some outstanding orders and a lot of leads taken, that we’re still working through even now. Duplo International saw incredible success in the months following drupa so although it was a big investment our attendance really paid off.

Most of our new solutions are firmly placing us in the B2 commercial market with a particular emphasis on packaging. It is however, a very different part of the industry, so we have things to learn. The B2 sector is a massive growth area for us but more recently we’ve been making huge strides in the education sector with our square spine booklet-making and multi finisher (DC) ranges, especially when partnered up with the various digital printer OEMs.

Our Addlestone showroom is the European headquarters of Duplo so visitors can see our full range of multi-finishers, from entry level SRA3 all the way up to our B2 format systems. Our DC range complements the full spectrum of Multigraf creasers, folders, perforators and tape banding solutions also on show. We’re displaying our entire portfolio of booklet makers and saddle-stitching solutions plus our single-clamp binders. On the embellishment side, we have Duplo DuSense, both B2 with inline foiling and the B3 system. You can also see our B3+ and B2+ digital die cutters alongside the full range of Bagel Systems laminators and foilers. All are expertly demonstrated by our showroom manager with the full support of our team of international technical specialists.

This feature article was first published in the October/November issue of Digital Printer, which you can read online here; register here to receive future issues of the magazine.