Paper Cutters — Honing a Competitive Edge

Programmability and integration of material handling peripherals are not exactly new trends, but they are seeing broader application. Solutions are being offered for a wider range of cutters, and more printers and trade finishers are finding that the ROI adds up.

Running by the Numbers
One particularly active area of product development is in the sophistication of the programming features offered. The base level of computerization—a keypad or touchscreen and visual display—has become the standard, even for smaller cutters. The next step up is the ability to download (from another cutter or computer) job setups via floppy disk or network connection. The current apex of cutter control technology is integration of the CIP4/JDF specification, which some manufacturers have started offering.