upkeep and maintenance of a guillotine, including keeping blades fresh and sharp, is an ongoing measure of guillotine quality.” On this, Cherry offers some words of advice to what print companies should look for when in the market for a new machine. He explains that guillotines need productivity features to set themselves apart. “As we know many guillotines on the market are manufactured under the same roof – this differentiation only comes with the supplier’s ability to support new software retrofit upgrades, and the ability to meet the stringent maintenance schedules,” he says, adding: “These are all factors that should be considered.” With this, he advises printers to seek guillotines that offer flexibility of application such as a good size cutting width and subsequently cutting software and programmes that reduce changeover times and increase cutting confidence, such as the Straight2Cut packages from BaumannPerfecta. Further to this, he advises printers to consider their automation options, again highlighting how BaumannPerfecta offers advantages as they offer entire workflow solutions such as handling, jogging, pile turning, and robotics that reduce the need for manual labour, and reduce the overall liability associated with Schedule One machinery types. The most popular guillotines in this range are the 115 and 132 models, though Friedheim has seen an increase in the smaller 80 models from printers with a more focused product range. “New guillotines are almost always supplied with the optional cutting assistance software applied, which use pre-programmes and barcoding to streamline cutting operations, and will of course run with JDF format instruction,” Cherry says, continuing: “Buyers are also keen to check that they’re able to add extra automation down the line when they are ready, such as extra processing tables and robotic units.” Cherry concludes by issuing a warning against underinvesting in cutting technology within the print sector. He says the consequences can be “surprisingly serious”, with issues such as inaccurate or inconsistent trimming having the potential to spoil entire piles, forcing costly reprints and wasting valuable materials. “Slow or unreliable machines often create production bottlenecks, meaning the finishing department ends up dictating turnaround times for the whole business – something that is an increasingly important metric when customers expect faster and faster turnarounds, meaning this is often a deciding factor in the choice of supplier,” Cherry says. “The greatest risk, however, comes from outdated safety systems. Older guillotines lacking modern guarding, sensors, or compliant controls are still among the most hazardous items of equipment in the industry, exposing operators to unnecessary danger, and companies to significant liability. Little excuse is afforded to printers who don’t keep up to date with legislation and appropriate maintenance.” The message is seemingly clear; do not skimp when it comes to investment in guillotines and cutting machinery. Underinvestment in this technology can leave your business short of print finishing quality, and lead to a lack of sharpness in printed work (no pun intended). GUILLOTINES | ROB FLETCHER ▼ Friedheim International lists the BaumannPerfecta 132 as among the guillotine models most popular with its customers No matter how strong the pressroom performance, poor cutting can destroy the saleability of the finished product 53 www.printmonthly.co.uk Issue 358 - January | February 2026
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