Print specialist, imageData, has enhanced its production capabilities through an investment in a JWEI JCUT cutting and creasing system with automatic packaging feeder stacker from CMYUK. This is said to be the first installation of its kind in the UK.
Following upgrades to its digital printing capabilities, imageData identified a bottleneck in its manual cutting processes. To address this and meet rising customer demand, the company invested in the JWEI automatic packaging feeder stacker, a move aimed at modernising production, reducing manual labour, and increasing overall efficiency without sacrificing quality. The company went with this solution over other cutting solutions for its cost-effectiveness and advanced features, said imageData.
Lee White, imageData’s operations director, said: “The primary advantage of this machine is the automation. It eliminates the time-consuming manual tasks that frees up operators to engage in other processes, which, in turn, coincides with cost saving and resource optimisation.”
The JWEI automatic packaging feeder stacker is designed for streamlined material handling in short-run digital packaging and FSDU production. It feeds printed sheets from a stack, up to a weight of 5kg with a maximum feeding thickness of 22mm, cutting them on a vacuumed 2500 x 1600mm conveyorised bed, and then stacking the finished panels onto a pallet.
The JWEI feeder stacker is designed to handle a range of materials including display boards, corrugated boards, Correx, and semi-rigid substrates. With a cutting speed of up to 1500mm per second and the ability to manage a loading height of 750mm. It has a multi-functional tool head which features 12 integrated tools, including an electric oscillator and drag knife, making it highly versatile.
The JWEI system also has a Back Scan capability, which allows it to read printed guides from underneath the sheet. This eliminates the need for operators to manually flip materials for double-sided cutting and creasing, a time-consuming step in traditional workflows.
The addition of the JWEI has also led to improved staff efficiency, explained imageData. Operators are now freed from constant machine supervision, allowing them to be redeployed elsewhere in the facility. This shift has reduced handling errors, improved material protection, and increased throughput.
The JWEI system is placed next to imageData’s EFI Nozomi 14000 SD high-speed digital press and integrates seamlessly into the company’s automated workflow. The Nozomi outputs over 1100 boards per hour, which the JWEI then processes automatically – feeding, cutting, creasing, and stacking with minimal human intervention.
Mr White concluded: “Staying ahead with technology is crucial in our industry. Our investment in the JWEI automated packaging feeder stacker through CMYUK demonstrates our commitment to embracing innovation that delivers tangible benefits for both our operations and our customers.”
