The Dyss X7-2235T digital cutting table used for sample and short-run production at S Lester Packing Materials
Installing a digital cutting table from AG/CAD was central to S Lester Packing Materials’ strategy to win new business by turning around prototype and small production run jobs at speed.
‘We looked at a number of machines but we produce packaging out of corrugated board from micro-flute through to heavy duty CA flute and 17mm thick triple board,’ explained Anthony Quinn, technical sales manager. ‘We also cut a range of display board, honeycomb, foamcore, plastics and much more. To crease and cut such thick materials with precision required a heavy duty machine with a powerful cutting head.’
S Lester worked closely with AG/CAD to specify a machine for its needs and in February it received a Dyss X7-2235T cutting table with a heavy-duty combo head with a removable URT tool. The URT tool was fitted with a 150mm diameter HD creasing tool that generates over 48kg of downforce to ensure that all types of corrugated board regardless of thickness could be creased, from 9mm thick CA board through to 16 and 17mm thick triple board.
AG/CAD supplied the cutting table with an electric reciprocating knife with 12,000rpm speed and a 2mm stroke for processing corrugated, displayboard, honeycomb and foamcore. The X7-2235T was also supplied with a selection of reciprocating knife tools and corresponding toolholders, creasing tool bodies, a creasing roller holder and a 74mm diameter roller for grades up to BC flute. For more complex cutting, AG/CAD provided a V-Cut tool body and a series of blade holders for 22.5, 30 and 45 degree cutting.
‘This complete set of tools and respective holders from AG/CAD allows us to do everything from mitred folding and creasing through to the most precise cutting of heavy duty boards, said Mr Quinn.
Since the installation of the new machine in its recently opened design and innovation centre, the company has seen an influx of new consumer businesses requiring fast-turnaround samples and small quantity packaging projects.
‘We are now receiving cutting formes for production runs on an almost daily basis,’ said Mr Quinn. ‘This is a clear sign that the Dyss is taking new customer enquiries from the design stage through to the production phase at an incredible rate. For short production runs, we don’t need cutting formes as the Dyss will run small quantity jobs without the set-up costs. Additionally, using the Kasemake software from AG/CAD to design projects, we can export files direct to the cutting forme manufacturer. This speeds up cutting forme production, improves precision, reduces lead-times and eliminates the hand-drawing of forme designs.
