"They're more accurate, and take up considerably less space than sheeting manually," said Stephen Leopold, financial and technical director of UK agent Leopold Professional Imaging.

The 18 linear metres per minute, Italian-made, 2.5m-wide XL250 and 3.3m-wide XL320 use an automatic cross cutter that can either trim to Fotoba cut marks or the image area. The XL's memory can also "learn" marks and be programmed with cutting lengths and job quantities.

Two vertical cut units, which are controlled manually, are supplied as standard but up to eight can be used. Twin-bladed units are also an option for 8mm gutter trims.

According to Leopold the XLs are the largest roll-fed square cutters on the market. "And where we've installed the smaller versions they've paid for themselves virtually immediately," he said. "These won't be any different."

The XL's reel carriage can handle roll diameters up to 320mm, and substrates such as polycarbonates, laminated and encapsulated media, sticky-backed vinyl and PVC up to 8mm thick.

The trimmers are designed to be used in conjunction with wide-format digital printers from manufacturers such as NUR, Vutek and Scitex Vision.

"Many of these users leave their printers running overnight, which leaves a full roll of media to be trimmed in the morning," said Leopold, "which can mean two people sitting there all day with a long rule and a scalpel trimming up jobs."

The Fespa launched XL models join Fotoba's 1.4m, 1.54m and 1.9m trimmers, and will begin shipping to the UK from November. Leopold has already sold the first UK XL model to an unnamed firm.

Prices for the XL start at 20,000 rising to 25,000 depending on model and specification.

Story by Darryl Danielli