Franklin Web, a leading Australian catalog printer, purchased the ILF M3 “Cutting Edge” Rotary Cutter and FDC 1 Portable Flex Die Cutter that ILF Technologies exhibited at Graph Expo 2011 in Chicago. The high-performance in-line cutting systems will complement a new Komori System 38S web press at Franklin’s main production facility in Melbourne, Australia.

“We bought the M3 Rotary Cutter and FDC 1 Die Cutter to increase our product range,” said Phil Taylor, chief executive officer. “This new line will greatly enhance the potency of our market offering and will complement the fast speeds, low waste and extremely high quality of the Komori 38S.”

Designed for short make-readies and maximum uptime, the M3 Rotary Cutter is the most versatile cutting system available. The M3 Rotary Cutter features a new anvil pin cylinder that has a push-through pin system with positive bottom seating to prevent the pins from sinking when the rotary cutter is in operation. It also includes soft-cut die rule blocks and soft-cut heavy blade blocks and faster, more accurate knife positioning.

The FDC 1 Die Cutter offers portability solutions for added flexibility and customer solutions in the finishing line system. It can be positioned in different locations and comes equipped with the Siemens SIMOTION servo drive for quick plug-in, plug-out relocation. Once positioned in the line, it can be moved laterally across the web.

Franklin Web acquired the new cutting systems based in large part on a long history with ILF imprinters and in-line finishing systems.

“These are our first in-line rotary cutters and die cutters from ILF,” Taylor noted. “We have enjoyed an excellent experience with all the other equipment that ILF has made for us. The ILF organization is great to work with.”

The third-largest web printer in Australia, Franklin boasts four facilities totaling nearly one million square feet. The printer provides livelihoods for more than 200 employees.

Franklin prides itself on its innovative approach to catalog printing. On average, Franklin produces 230 million catalogs a month. The company strives to consistently deliver the best catalogs in the industry with a range of sizes, formats and finishes that guarantees a winning performance.

To that end, Franklin operates 11 web presses served by four in-line finishing lines and many ancillary systems. Its diverse stable of web presses consists of Heidelberg Harris M110C, Toshiba and Komori 16-page presses, KBA Compacta 618 and 818 models and an 80-page manroland Lithoman 4.