This article first appeared in the December 2024 issue of ProPack.pro.

Pressnet offers an extensive range of products encompassing printing machines, die-cutting equipment, paper cutting machines, binding solutions, laminating machines, and more, catering to diverse requirements across various sectors.

The leading provider of cutting edge machinery solutions for the printing and packaging industry has expanded its portfolio with a new rotary die cutting solution from manufacturer Dapeng.

Charlie Scandrett, managing director at Pressnet, said, “Dapeng, situated in Rui’an China, is primarily a paper guillotine manufacturer. However, 11 years ago, Dapeng began to develop rotary die-cutters”.

Pressnet suggested to Dapeng that it could increase its machine’s sheet size to 550mm x 750mm to suit the medium printer die cutting market and “to replace the ageing Heidelberg SBGs”.

Scandrett said, “The result is the Dapeng Rotacut 5575, which is a servo-motor setup machine capable of die-cutting and stripping the waste in one pass. Its gearing and side frames are as heavy duty as an SBG”.

Suitable for small batch and long-run production, the integrated Rotacut 5575 rotary die cutting machine uses a flexible die forme which is easy to replace. Features include automatic paper lifting, automatic paper feeding, double sheet detection, chasing mark alignment die cutting, automatic deviation correction, automatic waste discharge and other functions.

The separator section can be directed to blow away waste, and adjustment does not require tools. The separator section and collection section can be pushed away as a whole for changing the die forme.

The wheel of the separator section is electrically controlled, timed up and down to deliver the final product to the receiving table smoothly.

Applications include stickers, tags, wine labels, playing cards, small boxes and so on. It handles coated paper, cardboard, PE film, and other media. It handles sheet sizes from 240mm x 280mm up to 550mm x 750mm at speeds of between 1,000 and 6,000 cycles per hour. It handles a range of media from 0.15mm to 1.0mm in thickness.

Foyer the first

Recently, Pressnet completed its first Dapeng Rotacut 5575 regional installation at Foyer Printing on the Gold Coast.

Scandrett said, “It is already die cutting and stripping drink coasters at about 100,000 pieces per hour”.

Foyer Printing director Ron Rankin said, “We have run the Dapeng Rotacut 5575 for about two months. It is the first in the country, so we are the guinea pigs for the machine, which is proving to be a good workhorse. Obviously, there is a learning curve when you have a new machine, but we have smoothed it out and the Rotacut 5575 is ploughing on. There is still more refinement to come as we want to get it
to its full potential.

“At the moment, we are die-cutting, but we are looking forward to using the other capabilities that it has such as scoring and kiss-cutting. We do have plans for that later down the track. As yet, we haven’t run it at its maximum speed of 6,000 cycles per hour, but it is handling everything we can throw at it.

“Charlie and his engineer have helped us sort out any teething problems and concerns that we had. For instance, they gave us advice on getting the correct angles for the feeding suckers. We were also initially concerned that we might not get good longevity from the knives, but they are also performing. The Rotacut 5575 is quite gentle on the knives.”

Foyer Printing has had a long relationship with Pressnet.

Rankin said, “I have known Charlie for a long time and over the past 12 to 15 years he has supplied us with several machines. He is very knowledgeable, and he is a man of his word. We wanted some custom elements added to our Rotacut 5575 and he managed to get those done at a fair rate. Charlie always does his best to make sure we are happy. If we need anything, he is only an hour away.”