The company develops software that is used in the roll-to-roll label and 3D engraving markets, but entered the hardware market two years ago with its own cutter.
The i-mark automatic digital die-cutter can cut intricate shapes and holes without the need for dies.
“Nobody believed this could work so we made it ourselves,” said director Paolo Mazzolin.
The i-mark costs €4,000 and handles a minimum sheet size of A4 and a maximum of 350x500mm. It can cut a range of substrates from 120gsm-350gsm in thickness, including self-adhesive, card, polyester and polypropylene media.
“Our biggest business is in labels. If you have a run of 500-1,000 labels you can’t really produce them with other technology,” Mazzolin stated. “The fact that it’s automatic and fast is our USP.”
The i-mark uses a suction feeder to advance a sheet into the cutting mechanism, which uses a knife cutter in combination with a camera registration system. Speed depends on the complexity of the design, but could be 30-90 seconds per sheet.
It can half-cut for self-adhesive labels and stickers, or full cut for other items such as small format cartons.
Camera registration adjustments take “a few tenths of a second”, while cutting accuracy is approximately 0.2mm.
The compact device requires a desktop space of 81cm, while the total dimension including an exit tray that hangs from the edge of the cutter is 116cm.
“We can cut complex label shapes that you can’t even make a die for,” he added. “We use a suction feed because that’s the most reliable way to do it.”
Users create the cutting guides in Adobe Illustrator, with the i-mark then driven from a PC by the specialist software developed by ATS.
If cutting items such as business cards it is necessary to leave small ‘bridging’ pieces in the design so that the cut piece does not become detached from the sheet during operation.
“Our software has already been tested on our previous applications,” Mazzolin said.
The device is manufactured in Italy, and ATS has sold 200 so far. It is now looking to expand its user base beyond its home market, which is why it is exhibiting at Fespa.
ATS has appointed Print Solution in Milan as its master distributor.
