off against precision and repeatability, saying the Ultimate line was “built for topnotch precision at top speed”. Konsgberg doesn’t quote figures for either precision or repeatability for the Ultimate tables, but Kvanvik says that they match or exceed previous models, while running faster. He advises customers to bring samples of the material they want to cut when attending demonstrations. Clean-Cut The quality of the cut matters too, especially in corrugated, where die-cutting is accepted as the benchmark. Kongsberg’s design in the Ultimate range exerts the same 50kg equivalent downforce as in previous models, but in the larger two tables in the Ultimate range, this is helped by a novel carbon fibre gantry beam, designed for minimal weight and maximum stiffness. In the smaller models, of which the Ultimate 24 is the smallest, at 1680 x 3200mm work area, an extruded aluminium beam is sufficient and helps yield the highest acceleration figure of the range, at 2.74G. Kongsberg’s CorruSpeed tool provides static knives to yield clean edges without burrs on cuts, and there’s an oscillating option for the thicker materials used in exhibition stand and furniture construction. 150mm diameter creasing and perforation wheels apply the necessary force without tearing the fibres of the substrate. There’s no router option for the Ultimate series but other than resistant materials like acrylic, metal, or wood which require that, the new tables can cut the vast majority of printable rigid media used in signage work. The quality of cut achieved means that results in packaging sample-making should very much look like what conventional die cutting in volume production would, while also giving crisp edges to complex cut-out shapes increasingly being used to make POS/POP displays stand out in the retail environment. The Ultimate tables can be used in multi-zone mode in which one board can be loaded or removed while the table is working on another, to maximise throughput. It can also be fed automatically by Kongsberg’s Smart Materials Handler, which was introduced late in 2025, and robotic handling options are available for the highest levels of productivity. This is all complemented by a two-stage sensorbased SmartZone safety system which will first slow the cutting head if it detects movement nearby or stop it altogether if anything gets too close. As well as generally keeping work moving, this also avoids some of the potential quality problems with stopping mid-cut. Kongsberg supplies software to drive the tables but can increasingly integrate with prepress and CAD workflows (not least Esko’s, of which Kongsberg used to be a part of), reading cut/crease information from PDF layers or DXF files, as well as some proprietary file types. Kvanvik notes some customers with the most integrated and automated end-to-end installations are using JDF as the backbone but says that “you can do a lot with PDF”. The company also has an Adobe Illustrator plug-in which is about to gain additional metadata capabilities, as part of a ‘material is key’ concept in which including the name of the substrate in metadata can help set the right parameters for cutting it; job details can also be called up automatically from QR or barcodes printed on the edge of the media. If corrugated production is already part of your repertoire, the Ultimate 24 or its larger siblings may help give you a productivity boost. However, if you’re new to this work, but like the idea of expanding into new materials applications in packaging, whether prototyping or small scale custom production, it might be just the ticket. Working Area: 1680 x 3200mm (MultiZone two 1680 x 1450mm areas) Cut Type: Through-cut, perforate, and crease via choice of knives and wheels Media: All rigid/semi rigid types, especially corrugated, up to 30mm thick, but no routing Max Cut Speed: 167.5m/min Max Acceleration: 2.74G Statistics ▲The Ultimate range features three tool positions ▼The system has a infinite linear motor drive for higher cutting speeds KONGSBERG ULTIMATE 24 20 email: editor@signlink.co.uk Issue 264 - April | May 2026
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