Zünd unveils new automation features at virtual.drupa

Swiss digital cutting systems manufacturer, Zünd, has opened the way for enhanced automation in the print room with new interfaces for its modular cutters designed to optimise efficiency.

The new tech was unveiled during a virtual.drupa web presentation hosted by Zünd segment manager graphics, Lars Bendixen, and Aleksandar Lazic, segment manager packaging.

The discussion focused on intelligent automation for print and cut workflows and included the role metadata gathered from ERP and MIS systems plays in the production process, plus a new robotic automation interface.

The new technology uses metadata to project a number onto the printed piece so it can correctly matched to the right distribution label for easier automation.

The automation is based on Caldera’s Prime Center prepress automation software, which was developed last year in cooperation with Zünd.

Zünd is distributed in Australia and New Zealand by family-owned supplier, Starleaton.

Starleaton’s William Berlowitz, is a Zünd specialist and has done the training course on this new innovation. Any questions about it can be directed to Starleaton, by clicking here.

Starleaton CEO Ben Eaton

Bendixen covered the major role metadata plays when it comes to not only printing multiple jobs for different clients, but also how this can be used to ensure a finished product is sent to the correct place.

He added this technology helps aid delivery in an increasingly dynamic e-commerce environment while also boosting efficiency and greater yield from substrates.

“Having metadata at hand during the entire production process opens new possibilities,” Bendixen said, adding it is all communicated via QR codes.

This metadata is also then used to control robots in the print room.

Pick and Place Interface for robotic automation

This interface tells the robotic arm which basket to put the completed job into. It can work with any brand of robot and uses suction caps to pick up the printed material and deposit it in the box required.

“The metadata contains information about how the customer wants its product shipped even when jobs from different customers are nested together in the same print job, the robot will sort the final printed and cut parts based on the courier service chosen by the customer. This new Pick and Place Interface makes that possible,” Bendixen said during the presentation.

“Like everything else here at Zünd the system is modular and scalable. Our new interface allows you to choose almost any industrial robot from a local supplier. The communication between the cutter and the robot is done via standard interface.” 

This interface can also direct robotic activity when it comes to cutting corrugated and folding carton substrates for packaging companies.

Visualising Option

For this new feature, a small label printer is placed beside the cutting table. A number is projected onto printed substrates to indicate the printed identity label, which comes with a QR code, which needs to go with it.

Bendixen said the other identifying feature was a printed perforated tab which can be torn off.

But he said this is not always suitable for textile printing and that is what drove the label and projection innovation.

“In this set up a label printer is set up beside the cutter and a label is printed for each of the cut parts. It uses a projector to project a number on to a part and then the same number can be found on the printed label and the operator just needs to match the label number with the projector number,” he said.

In other news, Zünd announced it is working on developing an inline cutting solution. Any printers that are interested in this are urged to contact Zünd to discuss further.

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