Cheltenham-based small- and wide-format digital printing company Typecraft will take delivery in October of an Esko Kongsberg X24 Sign Starter bundle that wlll allow it to handle more finishing in-house.
The kit - comprising tabletop cutter with integrated i-cut software and a MultiCut-HP toolhead - has been ordered from CMYUK and will replace a Colex Sharpcut flatbed cutter at the company’s newly extended premises. It will work in concert with Typecraft’s Agfa, HP and Mimaki wide-format printers and Typecraft’s operations manager Matt Magovern believes it will enable the company to stop subcontracting the cutting of certain materials.
Typecraft had products from three vendors in its sights but Magovern said: “The Kongsberg was by far the best value for money. It does everything that we need it to do. It’s so much quicker than the machine we've got at the moment. Changing tools is faster and easier, and there’s lots more tools and options available,”
The Kongsberg X24 Sign Starter - which is upgradeable so more speed and tooling can be added as required - comes with integrated camera and tools for high speed milling and cutting of a range of materials. It has automatic sheet feeding - automated roll feeding is also available. The MultiCut-HP tool head is equipped with a strong, air-cooled milling spindle.
Magovern said: “It gives us control back over cost and speed. Our major focus is to start to create more POS material. We have many customers in that area and we will be able to offer more services to them thanks to the additional capabilities.
He confirmed the investment wasn’t just about the machinery though - Typecraft had sought a supplier with a proven track record of rapid response and good customer service and support. “CMYUK has an excellent reputation. Its Shrewsbury showroom is very impressive - there certainly is a lot of knowledge in that building,” he said. The company’s three cutter operators will receive three days training on-site with continued CMYUK telephone support.
Nick Reed, Esko business manager at CMYUK, said: “The Kongsberg X24 starter bundle was jointly configured by CMYUK and Esko to appeal to the mid-range market place. The pricing was purposely sub £90K (RRP £89,995.00) to gain access to a different tier of customer who had already invested in direct-to-substrate digital print but was still finishing by hand internally or subbing out work to be finished externally.”
