We are thrilled to announce that My Press Needs received two patents in 2020, one for the Crest Clamshell Widemouth™ and one for our Soft Cut™ technology. We are constantly looking for ways to improve efficiency, quality, and safety in die-cutting, and that means innovating. Each of these patents solves specific challenges our customers face.
The Crest Clamshell Widemouth: Redefining Die Cutting In the Large Format Market
The Widemouth is the first clamshell press to die cut thicker substrates like Falconboard®, Ultra® Board and more. It also can cut rigid plastics without the need to heat the cutting die. It is also the first clamshell to integrate touch screen and digital controls in the make-ready process.
The Widemouth diecuts 60-70 times faster than tables and 30-50 times faster than shuttle feed presses. This alleviates finishing bottlenecks while providing the clients required edge quality. Capable of cutting multiple sheets at the push of a button, the Widemouth changes from a standard .937-inch knife (running steel-to-steel) to up to a 3-inch knife (running the new Soft Cut System) in less than three minutes. No filler plates are added or removed. The process is completely automated through a six-axis servo system. The surprising result is mass production capabilities in a traditional technology (albeit a reengineered proven reliable technology)— a revenue-producing option not possible with competing technologies.
Today, we’ve installed multiple Widemouth presses and demonstrated that converters can run all traditional die-cutting jobs quickly and profitably. They can expand their capability with die-cutting jobs that until now have been exclusively cut on digital cutting tables (an effective but slower method). The Widemouth’s speed and precision provide mass production capabilities compared with tables, so for converters looking to expand short-run revenue opportunities, the Widemouth is the answer.
Soft Cut Technology Delivers “Significant Improvement in Edge Quality”
With Soft Cut you can run all existing and traditional substrates with zero make-ready. Soft Cut replaces traditional metal cutting plates with urethane pads and a serrated knife. Color-coded pads of varying hardness are matched with the correct knife profile to achieve zero make-ready. The change to Soft Cut dies takes less than two minutes.
Rick Putch, Director of Technical Services and Process Improvement at National Steel Rule, tested Soft Cut at our Research & Training Lab.
“Companies that utilize Soft Cut in platen die cutting will see significant improvement in improved edge quality, reduced cutting force, less machine abuse, prolonged tool life, elimination of ’angel hair,’ and most important, much faster setups with zero make-ready,” said Putch. “Any company who converts corrugated paper, plastic, solid board, and even foam will be pleasantly surprised at the profitability their clamshell die cutter can provide when switching to Soft Cut.”
These innovations offer new capabilities and market opportunities to corrugated, plastic, board, and foam converters. Coupling the two – the Soft Cut System with a Widemouth – amps up production possibilities even more.
Contact Rob with any questions you have about the capabilities of the Crest – sales@mypressneeds.com or call 866-347-1200.