Premier brand name in the cutting business

Any time I hear people speaking about flatbed cutters then mention Zund and Kongsberg. Rarely does anyone mention Mimaki or Gerber flatbed cutters. In order to be fair to all brands, we will study all four, but we started with Zund because this is the best known brand. Besides, it offers Swiss quality. I lived in Switzerland for three years and my brother studied at the ETH in Zurich (their equivalent to MIT). So I have a high respect for things Swiss.

Zund has been in the cutter business for over 20 years

Zund was originally a dealer for the Wild (Leica) plotter system, and outgrew that and bought Mechatron (Veriotron). Zund also inherited the PerfectaPrint flatbed inkjet printers from Mechatron, which it turned into the Zund 215 UV-curable combo style printer.

Zund cutters are for contour cutting, creasing, perforating, routing, packaging, for cut outs, mock-ups, using MDF, cardboard, polycarbonate, foamboard, foamex, vinyl, and other materials.

Zund Cutter LX1200 demonstration on Mayan figures

FLAAR Project to demonstrate benefits for museums in acquiring flatbed cutter capabilities

Nicholas shows the results of the cutting obtained on Maya figures

We study digital imaging hardware and software from the point of view of a non-profit research institute. FLAAR does not buy or sell printers or cutters. We are interested in learning about this hardware for cutting images printed with flatbed UV-cured printers.

Once we learn about these digital machines, we publish the results so that others can share our acquired knowledge.

Cutters are sufficiently important that two of us from FLAAR visited the Zund headquarters in Switzerland as their guest. We have a long range interest in continuing to learn about flatbed cutters and in developing a better understanding of the many applications for this kind of equipment.

Market for flatbed cutters expected to rise every year

With over 400 Zund model 215 flatbed UV-curing printers sold, and with many of the newer Zund 250 hybrid UV flatbed in use, there is always a market for Zund cutters. Now that the Oce Arizona 250 is a successful flatbed printer (with over 1000 units in anticipated future sales, a world record), there is even more demand for flatbed cutters.

ut what will really spur sales of all brands of UV-cutters is the new Gerber Solara ion flatbed UV-curing printer. If the cationic inks actually functions and if its unusual UV lamp system actually cures the ink, this printer will likely outsell the Oce and the ColorSpan as well. Although Gerber itself now offers its own flatbed cutter, it’s M-series, many of the printshops that buy a Gerber flatbed printer would be advised to also look at the Zund cutter.