Paper Cutters -- The Winning Edge

Jeff Marr, vice president of sales for Colter & Peterson, underscores the importance of three cutter characteristics: how well the system fits the customer's requirements; the quality of construction and level of support; and the amount of technology in the system.

"Will the machine stand up to rigorous workflow demands and, if service is required, can the vendor respond quickly with the required items needed to make repairs?" Marr poses. "And does the system incorporate the latest in both operator controls and operating elements?"

In addition to marketing Wohlenberg cutters and Baumann paper handling equipment, Colter & Peterson also sells the Saber and Prism brands of paper cutters. The newest Wohlenberg cutter and Baumann unloader debuted at Drupa last month. The latest model enables operators to go from job to job more efficiently. Its new computerized control system walks users through the setup process step-by-step.

Other features include touchscreen, improved graphics and a new self-diagnosis mode that enhances ease-of-use. A new unloader from Baumann, which also debuted at Drupa, can unload up to four different piles automatically to accelerate the cutting workflow.

Heidelberg unveiled its updated line of Polar cutters at Drupa: the basic Polar 78 XS, followed by the mid-range 78 X and 78 XT, with and without touchscreen operation. The new design features a longer front table for more working space in front of the knife. Optimized knife beams and guides allow for adjusting to the cutting performance of larger machines, especially for hard-to-cut materials and for industrial applications. The P-net is a communication interface between prepress, order preparation and production, which organizes and manages the data flow between all Polar components.

Users need to keep in mind the largest press or imaging size at its disposal, according to Mark Pellman, marketing manager for Baum Corp. The cutter should have the table width and depth to accommodate largest current and future requirements. Other considerations include: