Duplo last week introduced its sales teams and International network to the PFI Blade B2+ version of its digital cutting table.
The new version is aimed at the expanding B2 digital and short run sector of the market, covering personalised, promotional and prototype products. The company has made headway with PFI Blade B3+ version thanks to the software Duplo provides and the service and support on offer.
That continues with the larger version. The software is essentially the same, says Duplo International product specialist Andy Cuff. “This is the biggest differentiating factor between what we offer and others with cutting tables. We have proven connectivity to other partners, EFI and Ultimate, for example. We have continued the emphasis on ease of use.”
The settings for each substrate are stored within media database. This will be significantly larger than previously, not only because of the larger sheet size, but also because limit on the thickness handled grows from 1.5mm to 6mm. And this opens the door to handling plastic sheets, including acrylics.
There is a 100mm deep feeder with a vacuum feed head coping with sheets to a maximum of 800x600mm. The cutting head has a choice of rotating knife, kisscut knife, oscillating knife and creasing wheel. Three can be loading in the head at one time. CCD cameras are used to check on registration to the image and to read the QR to download set up specifications from the production database..
The connectivity enables the Blade to sit alongside its smaller sibling and other finishing equipment in a single network accessible to multiple users. The two Blade models might sit alongside each other, enabling the larger machine to take on overspill work from the smaller cutting table. The same software is used on both. As part of a network, jobs can be allocated to the most suitable machine.
The training requirement is minimised, as both machines have the same software, interface and capabilities, though the larger machine can handle the thicker materials that the older version cannot.
Ahead of the launch this week, Duplo has received orders amounting to 20 machines, says Cuff. Only “one or two” of these will be shipped to UK customers. Printers in Spain and the Czech republic have been quicker off the mark.
As well as short run cartons and point of sale jobs, the Blade B2+ is positioned to pick up jobs from the rapidly growing online gifts market. Says Cuff: “The new Blade will cut out a 24-piece jigsaw and produce the box for the puzzle in less than two minutes. It opens the way to personalised print and finished products.”
