It's not often a machine can boast that it produced a slice of history, but that's exactly what EskoArtwork's Kongsberg XL model did earlier this year. The Belgian-based company's i-XL table was used to cut numerous items for the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States, including a custom-built presidential stage.

Despite such lofty heights, the model started out from more modest roots. Manufactured in the Norwegian town from where it takes its name, Kongsberg XL die-less cutting tables were first shown at Drupa 2000 as a replacement for the manufacturer's CM range of tables.

The XL was capable of cutting at twice the speed (50m a minute) of its predecessor and came in a range of different sizes - 20, 22, 24, 42, 44, and 46 (see specifications box). Its primary function was to produce mock-ups of folded cartons - at the time of its launch, machines being used to produce such prototypes didn't have a very good reputation.

"The machines were very slow and didn't do a good job," says EskoArtwork UK and Ireland business manager Paul Bates. "The XL transformed the way the sector saw these machines - they were purpose-made for the market."

Changing with the times
Developments came regularly on the machine with new tools and substrates added on an almost annual basis. Importantly, all of these changes were also retrofittable. Key enhancements included the ability to mill substrates and produce foam in-fills, which was introduced in 2004. A new tooling PowerHead was also added to work with triple corrugated board.

In 2006, the range was developed further, with the i-XL for short-run digital signs and displays. This model incorporated Mikkelson Graphic Engineering's i-cut vision system.

Last month, at Fespa Digital, the company showcased its latest model, the XP, which runs at 100m a minute. The XP - short for ‘express' - will eventually replace the XL tables and users will be able to use the tables alongside their Indigo and iGen presses for short-run digital and on-demand work, rather than just for prototypes.

More than 300 Kongsberg machines have been installed to date in the UK and Ireland, with customers ranging from
big box makers through to a firm that produces pregnancy-testing strips.

"We have a customer who has 24 Kongsberg tables, and uses them to cut vinyl flooring," adds Bates.

Whether you use it to cut pregnancy strips or vinyl, one of the Kongsberg's main selling points is that it has the ability to store jobs - the XL hosts libraries of different substrates so that if the user repeatedly uses a particular substrate, the XL will remember how to cut and crease it. Optional extras available on the machine include sheet feeders for automatic loading, as well as a conveyor system for roll-to-roll material.

In the UK, EskoArtwork currently has seven engineers. Two different service contracts are available: ‘supreme', which contains everything including preventative maintenance; and ‘parts and care', which offers a split cost between the manufacturer and the customer on parts.

When buying a used model, Bates advises checking the condition of the cutting mat, which can cost as much as £1,000 to replace. "In addition, make sure the machine has all its tooling with it when you buy it, or else you'll have to buy them separately," he says.

XL20 SPECIFICATIONS
Max sheet size
20: 1,750x1,620mm
22: 1,750x2,580mm
24: 1,750x3,420mm
42: 2,280x1,680mm
44: 2,280x3,420mm
46: 2,280x5,190mm
Max speed 50m/min
Footprint 2.25x2m
Weight 405kg
Price
New from £40,000
Five-year-old model from £25,000
What to look for

• Cutting mat
• Complete tools