For almost 5 years, CuttingSystem 200 PACE has been doing a great job at the Swiss print shop Multicolor Print AG. As things stand today, the firm is extremely satisfied with the decision at that time to automate its cutting process. This allowed a dramatic increase in productivity.

The old equipment consisted of two cutting systems with stack lift, automatic jogger and down-stackers. At peak times, Multicolor Print AG had to run its systems in three-shift operation in order to cope with the vast output produced by their printing presses. Early in 2012, after carrying out a comprehensive analysis, the company decided to automate its cutting process. An existing cutting system, for instance, was replaced by a CuttingSystem 200 PACE made by POLAR. The previous system has since served as a back-up and the switch to the automated cutting system ran very smoothly. One decisive factor was certainly the high-qualified machine operators.

“While the PACE system was being installed, we optimized our printing process. This allowed us to reduce our cutting operation from the previous three shifts to two shifts,” says Andreas Burch, Multicolor production manager about the successful optimization process. Emilio Marziano, head of the finishing department, adds: “The loading gripper and turning gripper are major components that increase efficiency. In this way we can process higher stacks of cutting material without having to lower our sights as regards quality.” Both Burch and Marziano are extremely satisfied with the decision at the time to automate the cutting process and say: “We would choose this solution again any time.” 

Today, Multicolor operates two printing presses, a Heidelberg Speedmaster XL105 6-P+LX3 and a Heidelberg Speedmaster XL106 10-P+LX4. CuttingSystem 200 PACE is still able to easily cope with the printing capacity of both machines. Besides commercial printing products, the firm also produces magazines. Batches range from 500 copies to large print runs. Owing to extensive vertical integration the company is able to produce almost everything in-house. 

Multicolor Print AG

“Die können das” (they know how to do it) is the slogan of Multicolor. There is an innovative graphic business for print and on-line communication behind it. The following five competency centers are responsible for ensuring that the varied demands of the customers are always perfectly met: Multicolor Printshop (small and digital printing center), beagdruck (Maihof Luzern field office), bmedien (Print management for handling print jobs), Multi Digital (software and data bases development for communication processes) and NZZ Fachmedien AG. The whole group of companies employs around 110 skilled and experienced experts, including 5 apprentices. Multicolor is located in Central Switzerland and developed from a merger of three printing firms which took place in 1995. Since that time it has developed from a pure printing business into a competent partner offering solutions for all aspects of print communication.