The development history of laser die cutting machine

Background of cross-border laser printing technology

Since the first laser appeared in 1960, laser technology, as one of the four great inventions of human society in the 20th century (atomic energy, semiconductors, computers and lasers), has continuously changed human life. Especially in the past 20 years, laser technologies such as laser typesetting, laser platemaking, laser printing, and laser engraving have digitized many important links before and during printing, bringing about a revolutionary change in the printing method.

Currently, laser technology has been introduced into the field of post-printing processing, transforming the post-printing technology from mechanical knife analog processing to laser die-cutting digital processing! Packaging and label converters can really enjoy the efficiency and flexibility of Laser Die Cuttingdigital solutions.

Traditional post-press die-cutting lags behind the times

Traditional post-press die-cutting requires the production of templates, and common templates include flat plate templates and round knife roller templates. In China, most printing plants use flat plate templates. The production of plate die requires specific auxiliary equipment, such as various cutting machines and curved knife machines. Most of the processes in the actual production process of die cutting still need to be completed manually, so the technical level of the production personnel is very high, resulting in the dilemma of high-level die cutting personnel being difficult to find and the rising labor costs. Moreover, a lot of manpower, working hours, and material costs are wasted. Often, they can only correspond to one live part and will be discarded after use! Some printing factories often use large trucks to transport and destroy scrapped die cutters every day. Not only do they have to bear the freight, but they also have to bear the high labor costs required to destroy the die cutters. In addition, when using the die cutter, it needs to be installed on a specific mechanical die cutting machine (slot machine (beer machine), rotary flat die cutting machine, rotary die cutting machine, etc.) to be used, especially for modified or customized die cutters.

With the changes of the times, the development of digital variable data printing technology, and the increasing market demand for small batches, short editions and personalized printed products, the traditional mechanical cutting technology after printing is becoming less and less applicable, especially for live sources with short construction periods, complex cutting contours and high precision requirements

Laser die cutting realizes digitization after printing

Laser die cutting, also known as digital die cutting, has the biggest advantage that under the control of a computer, the graphics to be cut can be set at will, without the need to make a template, eliminating the steps of making a mold, and greatly shortening the time for mold cutting and delivery. Because the laser beam is very fine, it can cut various curves that mechanical molds cannot cut, and digital printing represented by laser mold technology came into being.

Advantages of laser die-cutting

1. The laser die-cutting processing mode is advanced and efficient. It does not change the physical properties of the processed objects and can complete some processes that cannot be achieved by conventional methods;

2. The laser processing speed is fast and fully automatic. It can automatically process objects on the production line at high speed and high efficiency;

3. The use cost of the laser die-cutting machine is low. In addition to electricity and labor, it saves various consumables, auxiliary equipment and various uncontrollable consumption. The operating cost of the laser cutting machine is almost negligible

4. It complies with environmental protection requirements, laser processing is non-toxic and harmless, and is a safe and clean processing method

5. The laser engraved mark can be maintained permanently, and it is difficult for traditional processing technology to imitate the unique effect of laser engraving, so laser engraving has outstanding performance in anti-counterfeiting;

6. Laser die-cutting can mark unique product serial numbers for products, which is convenient for product identification and traceability, and supports all codes.

Application fields of laser die-cutting

Laser die-cuttingIt is widely used in packaging proofing, anti-counterfeiting inkjet printing, label die-cutting, folding box die-cutting, self-adhesive die-cutting, paper, wood, leather artworks, plexiglass products and other material products.

Laser die-cutting technology at the Brussels Label Show.

The Prospect of Laser Die Cutting

With the rapid development of Internet technology and Internet of Things technology, mankind is entering the era of Industry 4.0 at an increasingly faster pace. To build the printing industry 4.0, it is necessary to build a highly integrated printing equipment that integrates cloud technology, inkjet technology, laser cutting technology, robotics technology and 3D printing technology, so that the whole process can be completed by one person on one machine. In these processes, the intermediate links such as hot stamping, embossing, die cutting, and code scanning must be digitized and interconnected with the cloud printing platform to achieve a truly seamless connection between the equipment and the Internet in order to cope with the increasingly fierce global market competition challenges.

The laser die cutting technology that replaces the mechanical die cutting technology is a revolution in the field of post-printing die cutting! In the future, laser products will subvert traditional industries.