by Melissa Donovan
Industrial printing is only a portion of the equation—finishing is influential in manufacturing facilities turning toward digital to create efficient production processes. The June issue of Industrial Print magazine looks at how automated finishing and material handling is crucial in modern corrugated digital printing production.
Depending on the solution, it can be placed inline, offline, or near line to a digital printer. Vendors have shared what they offer for automated tools that finish or handle corrugated board below.
AXYZ’s TRIDENT comes in a standard three-device configuration, consisting of a spindle, tangential knife, and oscillating knife. The AXYZ Vision System is used to accurately line up printed material to ensure minimal use of bleed lines. Other devices such as the knife calibrator or the automatic tool tip sensor offer further automation to reduce manual processes.
Colex Finishing offers board loaders, full inline solutions with wide format printing devices, as well as offloading conveyors and stacking trays.
Elitron America Inc.’s Kombo TAV-R is a flexible and modular, innovative dieless cutting system, with two independent cutting heads and material handling integrated in the production cycle. Among its various original and innovative solutions, Kombo TAV-R it is the first step to true complete workflow automation and guarantees a production increase and cost reduction while offering non-stop operation.
Infinite Motion Control, Inc. offers an extensive range of material handling automation designed to elevate the performance of hybrid printers, flatbed printers, and digital cutters. The product lineup includes inline and near line board feeders and stackers, alignment tables, and board flippers, perfect for situations requiring two-sided printing and creasing.
Kongsberg Precision Cutting Systems offers a range of automated solutions, tailored for corrugated, but also packaging and display materials that enhance productivity and efficiency. These include Feeder & Stacker, the technology provides a seamless way to increase productivity. The board feeder and stacker combination speeds up short-run production by eliminating manual handling bottlenecks and reduce both material damage and waste, without additional labor costs. In addition, the Robotic Material Handler is a fully automated sheet handling solution that loads and unloads materials directly from and to pallets with high precision, due to the support of our patented Dynamic Gripper.
Laguna Tools’ Smart Shop MT Elite is the a versatile router platform with seamless operation, precise movements, and unrivaled reliability. High-performance Fanuc servos redefine speed, accuracy, and efficiency. The SmartShop MT Elite’s spacious tool plate allows for mounting various tools, from precision router bits to robust knife options.
Summa’s V Series and F Series digital flatbed cutters are designed for efficiency and ease of use. Powered by GoProduce software, these cutters offer intuitive operation and seamless integration into automated workflows. The V Series (Sheet-Fed Flatbed Cutters) feature an automated feeding and collection system with quick response code based workflows, minimizing operator intervention. F Series (Conveyorized Digital Flatbed Cutters) includes a barcode-driven workflow, feeder, and optional integration with robotic systems such as Cobot, enhancing efficiency in high-volume environments. A proprietary corrugated cutting tool is digitally controlled for precision, allowing operators to adjust settings dynamically during prototyping and production. The tool is digitally steered, ensuring optimum quality.
Zünd offers multifunctional, highly modular, and customizable cutting solutions for corrugated applications, depending on the customer’s needs and production environment. The Zünd Q-Line delivers unprecedented efficiency, flexibility, and automation in packaging and display applications. From prototyping to higher volume production, it enables high-precision cutting of many different kinds of materials—including protective packaging materials such as foam. It integrates perfectly into digital workflows, boosts production speeds, all while simultaneously reducing material utilization and operating costs. Packaging and display manufacturers benefit from short setup times and maximum repeatability, which translates into cost-effective, sustainable production at the highest level. The Zünd G3 and dual-beam D3 offer maximum versatility when it comes to specialized, high-performance, material handling, and workflow automation. The modularity of these systems, along with their build quality, reliability, and longevity make them a future-proof investment.
Jun2025, Industrial Print Magazine
