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Labels&Labeling |55
Spartanics brings
Finecut to Europe
An open house hosted by Spartanics-Systec introduced the Finecut laser cutting system to Europe, and
recent software developments will allow it to compete with rotary die cutting, as James Quirk reports
Laser technology is nothing new, but a variety of issues have
prevented it cementing itself as a widespread alternative to
rotary die cutting in the finishing sector. Speed, issues with
achieving right angled cuts, varied performance on different
substrates, not to mention cost, have all conspired to keep the
technology on the periphery of mainstream label production.
But a recent open house organized
by US-based Spartanics, held in
Bielefeld, Germany at its partner
Systec, a manufacturer of screen
printing equipment and drying systems,
showcased a laser cutting system which
the company believes will not only set
new standards for digital finishing, but
also compete directly with rotary die
cutting in the flexo market.
This was the European debut of Spartanic’s Finecut laser
cutting system, the first of three appearances in the region
which will culminate at Labelexpo Europe, in Brussels, in
September. The Finecut, which comes in roll- and sheet-fed
versions, can achieve speeds of up to 100 m/min, a
breakthrough which Mike Bacon, Spartanics’ VP of sales and
marketing, says is only the beginning. ‘We could go faster
with two laser sources, but it gets to the point where the cost
is prohibitive. We believe we can get to 150 m/min, using only
one laser, within the next year.’
This increase in speed is just one of the elements that Bacon
believes will allow the Finecut to compete with rotary die cutting
in the flexo market. ‘A year ago, we couldn’t compete; but now,
with these speeds, we can. With the trends towards shorter
runs and multiple jobs, rotary tools need to be changed more
"We could go faster with two
laser sources, but it gets to
the point where the cost is
prohibitive. We believe we can
get to 150 m/min, using only
one laser, within the next year"
regularly, which gives laser cutting an advantage.’
Software advances, too, are crucial. ‘While laser technology
has been around for a while, the software capabilities had
not been catching up with the lasers,’ says Bacon. ‘We’ve
made a concerted effort to develop the software – it’s all
about what you tell the laser to do.’ The Finecut is controlled
by sophisticated software integrated to
provide constant monitoring feedback
and control of all system operations,
including registration, web control, laser
power, laminating and slitting. A pictorial
operator interface, specifically designed
for digital laser cutting, allows swift
modifying of the pattern to be cut. Job
parameters can easily be entered, making
quick work of adjusting to the variety of
materials, material widths and thicknesses, and part sizes that
are encountered. ‘We’re aware of how difficult it is nowadays to
recruit good operators,’ says Bacon, ‘so we have focused on
making the system as easy as possible to use.’
The Finecut also includes a quick, accurate job quote
tool, which identifies the maximum web speed and cut per
part. Print registration is flexible, and senses anything that
has contrast and shape. The laser operates across a variety
of cutting fields depending on the system configuration.
However, the 200mm x 200mm system is ideal for narrow web
label production. ‘The configuration of the laser is triggered,
and can be changed, by a barcode or registration mark or
color, for example,’ says Bacon. ‘It takes 30 seconds from
reading to configuring a new cutting pattern, so waste is
minimal, just a handful of labels.’
may 2009 | L&L