How the company is remaining at the cutting edge of finishing technology with the launch of the S3.
The Zünd name is synonymous with quality engineering. The award-winning Zünd G3 cutter changed the way print service companies approached their finishing and set the standard in professional digital cutting services. Hot off the press is the announcement that Zünd has launched the next generation S3 cutter and expectations are high. Peter Giddings, sales and marketing director at Zünd UK, says: “The launch of the S3 cutter line is extremely exciting and significant. The same philosophy and pedigree that has been recognised in its ‘bigger brother’ - the G3 - is now available to the smaller format market. Employing the same concept of modularity relating to tooling and automation, etc., the S3 can be configured to finish a wide range of materials both rigid and roll fed, thus allowing ‘growth’ in the product for the potential client. In addition to this, the revolutionary new direct-drive system will ensure that it will be very difficult for its rivals to match it in terms of quality, productivity and the price/performance ratio.” The new Zünd S3 is capable of processing a wide range of materials, including textiles, vinyls, films, thinner plastics and cardboard; with the modularity and quality expected of Zünd. The S3 features smaller, space-saving footprints and ultra-fast Z- and T-axis control. Altogether, the characteristics of the S3 make it the perfect all-round cutting system whose capabilities can be extended even further with creasing tools and a 300W router module. Zünd Cut Center, Zünd’s multiple award-winning design-to-cut software suite completes the new S3 line . Giddings continues: “The S3 is such a good purchase in terms of point of entry to this kind of technology and, with a smaller footprint, this unit will be welcomed by medium sized digital print providers working with board, textiles, aluminium and plastics, who simply don’t have the space for a G3. It’s a great all-round digital cutting and routing system and because it is based around a modular upgrade path, just like its big brother the G3, the S3 has the capabilities of growing with your company and can help you enter new markets when your company is ready by simply adding a new module.” The launch of the Zünd S3 follows quick on the heels of the Zünd Board Handling System launched in 2011 to improve and increase the productivity of the company’s flagship product, the Zünd G3. The new Zünd board handling system, designed for fully automated production of signage, displays, packaging, cardboard engineering and other applications, further accentuates the advantages of digital cutting. This option, typical of the Zünd cutter concept, is highly modular and can be implemented gradually. You can have fully automatic feeding and unloading, semi-automatic or manual - depending on your needs and workspace. With full automation of both the loading and unloading process, virtually no set-up or operator intervention is required and the Zünd Cut Centre software, ensures user-friendly system operation. All of this combines to significantly enhance productivity while limiting personnel intervention to loading and unloading pallets of stacked boards and finished product. In developing this automated material-handling system, care was taken to not lose sight of the need for processing single boards. The accessibility and easy set-up of the system allows single orders and samples to be produced just as efficiently as the short and medium size runs. Whether for shorter or longer production runs, the innovative Zünd board-handling system is the passport to greater efficiency and new opportunities. Giddings concludes: “The G3, since its introduction, has acquired several awards for its innovative design and improved handling and we expect that the S3 will continue to add to this success. The launch at Fespa Digital has been highly anticipated because of the prospects coming over to see the machine and what it can do for their businesses. It’s also a pleasure to have the first UK showing of the S3 at Sign and Digital UK, our national show. It’s an exciting time!” The Zünd S3 and the Zünd G3 can both be seen at Sign and Digital UK on the Zünd UK Stand E10 and on the GPT stand. For more information, visit www.Zünd.co.uk
Spotlight on Bex Design Services Originally formed as Serobex in 1987, Bex Design Services is a family run business that commands a strong position within the industrial printing market. Based in Wiltshire and servicing numerous blue chip companies, it covers a wide range of industry sectors. Bex Design is one of the market leaders for screen and digitally printed overlay nameplates. Its first purchase from Zünd was way back in 2005 when the company bought the M800, which was replaced upon purchasing the new G3. Since then, Ian Board, managing director of Bex Design Services, says it has continued to purchase from Zünd because of the reliability of the machines and the wide spectrum of media that can be finished and profiled. Board explains: “Purchasing Zünd machines has broadened our product range and opened markets. The G3 has provided us with greater production capacity and shorter manufacturing lead-times, and we are able to cut and form larger items which has opened up new markets, not only to ourselves but also to our customers. "When it came to replacing the M800, the G3 demo convinced us it was the right machine for the job – the softwar e, the router, the size, speed, finish and cut is outstanding." Bex purchased the Zünd G3-M1600 which was installed in November 2011. The installation was pretty straight forward for Bex as Zünd UK planned the process with a site visit. Due to the size of doorway access Zünd built the machine in-situ from three parts and, following installation, Zünd UK provided Bex’s staff with three days on-site training and continues to provide great after sales service. The company is using the Zünd G3 to produce and finish a huge range of products including gaskets, nameplates, overlays, point of sale items, routed acrylic, foamex, dibond, insulators, tagging systems, electronic membranes and engraving. And how does the future look for Bex Design? In the run up to its 25th year, Bex Design experienced a growth of 15% in 2011 which coincided with its highest turnover since the business started in 1987. The Board is looking forward to celebrating the anniversary: “We are on target to achieve growth of 8% in 2012 and are currently making plans to extend our premises to accommodate the future of the company. We’ve seen many changes over the past ten years for Bex Design and the biggest has been the influence of digital print and digital cutting methods. The advances in new digital technology have enabled us to have minimal set-up costs (i.e. zero pre-press and tooling costs) and driven our standard lead-time right down to, in some cases, turnaround in less than 24 hours for what were previously very complicated and lengthy jobs. “The future is certainly bright for Bex Design and it’s very proud to be celebrating its 25th anniversary in the printing industry by investing in the latest technology to drive the business forward for many years to come.” For more information on Bex Design Services, visit www.bexdesign.co.uk.
