47 Issue 256 - December 2024 / January 2025 email: editor@signlink.co.uk FLATBED VINYL CUTTERS Cutting is an integral part of many vinyl-based sign applications. Be it colourful window graphics in shop windows or eye-catching vehicle graphics covering cars and motorbikes, ensuring a high-quality finish is crucially important – and cutting plays a key part in this. The good news for sign-makers is that there have been significant advancements in cutting technology in recent years. Gone are the days when sign-makers would painstakingly have to cut out designs by hand; nowadays, sign professionals can use flatbed vinyl cutters to create all manner of designs, no matter how intricate they may be. Here, we take a look across the market, picking out some of the latest machines available to sign-makers and gain insight into how these new technologies can help improve the quality of sign applications across a range of sectors. Accuracy is Key First up is CMYUK, which works with leading manufacturers to supply both large-format print and finishing equipment to the industry. Finishing business manager Nick Reed explains that taking cutting in-house allows greater control over design production timelines and quality, ensuring that products meet brand standards consistently. “By cutting in-house, sign-makers can reduce lead times and respond to customer orders more quickly, enhancing customer satisfaction and competitiveness in the market,” he says, adding: “Eliminating outsourcing costs for cutting services can lead to significant savings, especially for small to medium sized businesses. Over time, the investment in equipment can pay off through reduced external costs. “Having a flatbed digital cutter on site offers flexibility to make last minute changes, create prototypes, or produce short-run custom jobs without the constraints of third-party schedules. In-house capabilities open up creative possibilities for sign makers, allowing them to experiment with new materials, shapes, and designs, leading to more unique offerings.” So, what should sign-maker be looking for in a quality flatbed vinyl cutter? Reed says accuracy of cutting is vital, recommending a blade that is sprung rather than fixed. He explains this blade has a spring mechanism that allows it to adjust to the thickness of a material, allowing for cleaner cuts – especially on uneven or thicker materials – by moving up CUTTING CORRECTLY A hugely important tool for many sign-making businesses, SignLink takes a closer look at flatbed vinyl cutters, speaking with manufacturers and suppliers about how their latest solutions can help improve production
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