Efficient Cutting Rounding off the discussion is Seth Morgan, marketing executive at Friedheim International, which also supplies finishing machinery – including guillotines – from various manufacturers. Morgan says higher automation levels are not only far more readily available, but also more sought after as a baseline, explaining how while previously Friedheim only saw demand for fully automated cutting once a year, this is now much more regular. “Automation, along with connectivity and workflow integration, are quite important to the cutting process in print finishing,” Morgan says, continuing: “Printers that value an efficient cutting process, especially those with the luxury of looking into the longer term, want to ensure that skills shortages and workplace health and safety are under control. Even when fully automated and robotic systems aren’t a possibility, lifting, jogging, turning, and on-table handling can all be assisted.” Leading on from this, Morgan highlights how many customers that approach Friedheim for cutting solutions are seeking machines where higher automation levels are already integrated, so that the guillotine is already taking care of more of the workload, and the users do not want that cost to be prohibitive. He also speaks about how printers are now looking for a solution that fits their specific needs, especially We’re seeing a wider range of cutting formats and moving closer to ‘inline’ guillotining solutions where in certain applications, the “one-sizefits-all” machine can be wasteful. As to where the market will likely be heading over the next five years and beyond, Morgan says that the high cost of production is driving the sector into looking at new options. “Friedheim has been working to move up the supply chain and bring costs down for the end customer without the need for any sacrifice on automation, software, and most importantly, safety,” he says, adding: “We’re seeing a wider range of cutting formats and moving closer to ‘inline’ guillotining solutions.” The overall message from manufacturers and suppliers here is that guillotines are becoming smarter, more automated, and increasingly connected to the wider production workflow. While precision remains fundamental, printers are now looking for technology that can also reduce setup times, minimise waste, and make life easier for operators. With shorter runs, tighter turnaround times, and ongoing skills shortages continuing to shape the market, these demands are unlikely to disappear. Automation, intuitive controls, and greater integration will therefore remain key areas of development. For what is one of the most established technologies in print finishing, the guillotine looks set to have a very modern future. Early mechanised cutting devices were aimed at cutting books, pages, and stacks of paper rather than trimming freshly printed commercial sheets. Factoid ▲ The Horizon B2 SmartStacker and Horizon B3 SmartSlitter are both supplied in the UK by IFS ▼ Freidheim recently added Guowang Group as a partner. Pictured: the Guowang High Efficiency Front Feed Cutting System 63 www.printmonthly.co.uk Issue 363 - November | December 2026 GUILLOTINES | ROB FLETCHER
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