Local manufacturer launches low-cost diecutter for digital labels

One of Australia's few homegrown equipment manufacturers has unveiled a diecutter that bridges the gap between entry-level and high-end.

Rapid Machinery, which is based in Chatswood, Sydney, launched the D2 diecutter at trade show Label Forum Japan in Tokyo in July.

The diecutter, which can handle reels 50-254mm wide at 5-18 metres per minute, is aimed at the super short-run market of sub-5,000 labels, said Nick Mansell.

One of the big selling points is its fast makeready, ideally suited to digital output, such as labels produced on Rapid's range of printers, powered by Memjet print heads.

Mansell said that with its digital label presses, "you can print one or two labels and the first or second label is going to be saleable", so it made sense that finishing equipment was equally efficient.

"If you can’t access the first print in your converting machine there is no point in having the first print good off your digital machine," he said.

The D2 takes just 30-50cm of reel length to set up.

The diecutter can be supplied as an integrated solution running inline with Rapid's X2 press and rewinder for US$70,000, while a base specification D2 alone costs $38,000 and can be configured inline or offline to convert work from digital labels presses, including HP Indigo.