60 email: news@printmonthly.co.uk September / October 2024 - Issue 350 UNDER THE HOOD / VIVID VELOTON Vivid Laminating Technologies has long been known for developing cutting and creasing equipment which pushes the boundaries of both innovation and production. Machines such as the Vivid Veloblade Volta and Nexus have been reviewed by us before and the products always exceed expectations, and in practice, push production quality and volumes to new heights. The company’s new device, the Vivid Veloton, is small in size but is looking to make a big impression. Furthermore, if you currently have a Vivid cutting table, this device can be easily retrofitted to your set up. So, what is it about this new piece of equipment that will make such a difference? Making a Splash The Vivid Veloton is a device that can deliver multiple cutting outcomes in one pass and Vivid says it can increase production ten-fold by repeating a single cutting action a number of times, simultaneously. Let’s consider the problem of a ribbon containing four identical labels, albeit with different printed images on each. The Vivid Veloton is able to pick one of the four and cut it as you would do normally, but the advantage of using the device is that the original label pattern is replicated across the other three labels with triple the number of knives, all at the same time. The device does need to have a predictable and reproducible pattern across the ribbon or sheet, but providing this is possible, the cutting heads can be set on the correct repeat and the primary knife will lead while the other knives follow its lead. The repeat pattern is not defined solely by the number of knives on the Veloton head. Take for instance 12 heart shaped images on one row on a sheet; typically, the cutting head would need to pass over all 12 to score or cut the outline. With the Veloton you could have a multiple cutter head with a total of four stations, so the machine would pick up on the first heart and the remaining knives will line up with every fourth image. The machine will then cut four hearts at one time. It then moves the primary knife to the second heart in the row which moves the remaining three over one heart to cut the next four at one time and finally for a third time, the knife moves once more and in the time taken to produce three hearts, 12 have been produced. Vivid can provide a series of Veloton heads which will match standard sizes and repeat patterns so all the operator needs to do is lay down the images to suit. Equally, should you need a custom size this can be provided by Vivid as an option. Changing between each format is simple, the user unlocks two orange clamps on either side of the Veloton bar and removes or exchanges to the next combination. You then relock the bar and restart the machine and the next selection of production layout can be undertaken. Plug and Play The equipment of the Veloton consists of a support block and cutter bar. The support bar sits to the left of the main cutter head when you are looking towards the machine. It sits on the main overarm the cutting head sits on and can be adjusted to suit whichever size of bar you have chosen. Should you not need to use it, there is a single plug that needs to be removed and the support clamp can be moved to the far-left-hand side of the machine to allow the original, full movement, of the main cutter head. To avoid issues with mupitle cuts Vivid has created a patented skewed sheet function which can pick up on any sheet that is not presented square to the cutter stations and will then adapt to cope with the new situation. Also, there are some clever design attributes to the Veloton that means the control of cutting pressure across the various knives produces the same outcome regardless of where it is positioned. Roll or Sheet The Veloton does not limit in any way the main functions and configuration of whichever Vivid device the Veloton is fitted to. Whether you were planning to use it on rolls or sheets, the Veloton literally multiplies up whatever the main cutter station is cutting by the number of knives on the cutter bar. As with most great ideas, the basis is simplicity itself, a clean and unhindered design. This is the case with the Veloton, with the upsides of production making the device quite impressive. MULTIPLE CUTS Vivid Laminating Technologies has developed the Veloton, an innovative new product which claims to increase cutting production ten-fold. Brian Sims finds out more... Brian Sims Principal Consultant, Metis Print Consultancy, www.metis-uk.eu
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