The DYSS cutting head
To keep up to date with the latest technology SignsDisplay.com has invested in both an Agfa 3020 Titan UV flatbed printer and a DYSS X7 2230C CNC digital die cutting table.
Managing director, Mike Hitchman said, ‘In the early days we were vinyl cutting and producing stencils for screen printing. We are always looking for innovations to improve our business and at Sign & Digital UK 2012, we were looking for a flatbed digital printer and a compatible cutting table with a similar bed size to the printer. The arrival of the Titan in July 2012 enabled us to process faster and at a higher quality with a 3 x 2 metre bed capacity, so we could move existing work from screen to digital printing with a capacity of 200 sq/m per hour. The market review for a compatible cutting table led us to acquiring the DYSS X7 CNC die-less cutting table that was delivered a month after the Agfa printer. The DYSS complements the printer perfectly with a working area of 2.25 x 3 metres with a maximum sheet size of 2.35 x 3.4 metres.’
Whilst the printer has helped it to increase its capacity and print quality, the DYSS X7 with a maximum cutting depth of 25 mm has also been a major benefit to the company. Prior to its arrival of the DYSS X7, the company was manually cutting up to 2000 Corex boards each month for estate agents with its Excalibur wall stand and knife.
The DYSS cutting table in action
This labour intensive operation was a full time job for one employee. Additionally, with more customers requiring Corex boards with innovative shapes and designs to set themselves apart from their competition, the company was using a platen cutter with complex board forms to service such demands.
Mr Hitchman continued, ‘We were in a position whereby more estate agent boards required platen cutting, with typical batch sizes of 50 to 100 and some batches up to 400, the cost of the platen was adding up to £3 to the cost of each board. In a cost competitive market, customers were reluctant to accept this. The arrival of the DYSS allows us to produce these complex Corex boards on the cutting table without the cost of platens. Furthermore, with the Kasemake K-Cut workstation and variable look-ahead vector control, we can improve accuracy beyond that of platens whilst optimising our processing speed. This enables us to pass our efficiencies on to the customer and be more price competitive than our rivals whilst providing precision and quality that is far superior.’
‘In one instance, we were asked to produce a Corex board shaped like a frog. Previously we wouldn’t have offered this service due to shape complexity that wouldn’t have made the project cost effective. With the cutting table, we accepted the Illustrator file, exported it to the Kasemake software and efficiently completed the project. The cutting table has increased our productivity by a massive 20% whilst simultaneously freeing an employee from hand cutting boards to alternate tasks.’
An example of box designs made with the new DYSS
