SC7000 series. In addition, complementing the range are the FB580 and FB790 flatbeds, which Winstanley says offer “serious capability” within space-conscious environments when power is needed. “In the UK and many other parts of the world, our ColorCut 6500 and ColorCut 7000 systems continue to sell rapidly,” Winstanley says, continuing: “They deliver high performance in a compact footprint, offering features that were once limited to larger machines.” Unlock Capacity Rounding off the discussion is Seth Morgan, marketing executive at Friedheim International, who says PSPs should consider upgrading cutting systems when they notice a bottleneck or when consistency issues begin to impact quality. He adds that it is important not to wait if this is impacting popular product lines and improve throughput before demand increases too far, as increased pressure can exacerbate quality. “In fact, it’s common to move a popular product from a more essential or flexible system such as a guillotine into a more specialised solution for this exact reason,” Morgan says, adding: “Printers typically upgrade from a guillotine to a three-knife trimmer to move from a manual, multi-step cutting process to a fully automated, single-pass finishing solution. “A three-knife system trims head, tail, and face simultaneously, delivering consistent, repeatable accuracy that’s difficult to achieve with manual handling. This not only improves quality but significantly increases throughput, making it far better suited to today’s short-run, fast-turnaround digital workflows. “Automating this set of processes into a single system also reduces reliance on skilled operators, minimises handling damage, and enables faster job changeovers through Digibook’s programmable settings. When integrated in line with a perfect binder, it transforms cutting from a bottleneck into a seamless part of a streamlined, end-to-end book production process.” Going into more detail on the Digibook range, Morgan picks out the Digibook Mitatrim Pro, a three-knife trimmer designed specifically for digital book production, offering automated setup, high-speed output, and seamless integration with binding systems. He says the device has become popular with printers looking to capitalise on the higher margins associated with high quality photobooks and hardback books, especially in web-to-print businesses. Morgan concludes: “Cutting has a direct impact on both productivity and perceived product quality. Investing in the right finishing technology can unlock capacity, reduce costs, and elevate the overall standard of output “Key factors include automation level, ease and speed of job changeovers, integration capability, especially in line with binders, consistency of trim quality, and minimal operator intervention. While reliability should be a given, overlooking this can be a big mistake so due diligence on machine build quality and software robustness is essential to ensuring a good investment.” While there is no specific time to upgrade small-format cutting machinery, there are several factors that PSPs should keep an eye out for that could signal the need for new investment. With plenty of options available on the market from trusted and reliable manufacturers and suppliers, this opens up a whole range of opportunities to those print companies seeking to expand and grow with stronger finishing. SMALL-FORMAT CUTTERS | ROB FLETCHER There is no one size fits all answer but knowing your volume and application mix helps you choose the right fit ▲ Plockmatic says its new SC7800 Pro-RS XL is “redefining” small-format performance ◄ Supplied by Friedheim International, the Digibook Mitatrim Pro is a three-knife trimmer designed specifically for digital book production 59 www.printmonthly.co.uk Issue 360 - May | June 2026
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