Casting a lasers eye-view on digital die cutting

The views of Bill Knotts, vice president, Spartanics on the use of the latest laser die cutting technology in the finishing department of label converter companies are presented. The prototyping capabilities of laser cutting systems deliver a competitive advantage to label converters and to others who have similar needs to perform fast jobs. The latest models of laser cutting systems can be set up quickly by importing any vector-based drawing into the operating software of the system, eliminating the need for tools. These systems also control prototyping costs and have a significant impact on profitability of converting operations. The tool-free systems also have an advantage of cutting certain substrates that pose challenges for tool-based cutting systems. They also help converters to cut adhesives easily as they eliminate gumming tendency of adhesives and employ better software to synchronize the pulsing on and off laser beams with artwork geometry.