Cusano: We primarily do in-store temporary and permanent displays for the POP/POS retail environment—some of them large chains and some for smaller.

Ebert: We use the cutter for virtually everything that comes off of our UV digital press. Currently, we produce a lot of window signage with complex shapes and very tight borders. We use it for POP displays and packaging with direct print on corrugated stocks. We do some prototyping that can lead to larger quantity runs that eventually are printed on our litho presses and sometimes our die cutter.

Merrick: The ability to cut all kinds of materials was a major factor. Our varied customer base means that we are frequently cutting foamboard and Gatorfoam, as well as plastics of all kinds including styrene, Lexan, and PVC. And, the M3000 is sturdy enough to handle the rigorous finishing requirements of Alumalite and Dibond. Our shop also maintains an “office clean” environment, so the M3000’s ability to knife cut plastics like 6mm PVC is a really great and the on-board vacuum system allows us to cut Alumalite or Dibond with virtually no mess.

4) Have the products lived up to expectations for your particular needs?

Bass: Like any new piece of equipment there is a learning curve. Once you have an understanding of which tools work best with different medias, this machine is awesome. It affords us repeatability that you just can’t get when you’re finishing by hand.

Williamson: We have been quite impressed with our cutter. It has had no downtime or service calls to date and the training time isn’t as significant as I expected it to be. When we try a new substrate or application there can be some trial and error as we figure out how best to do it, but overall it’s not been a source of headaches for us.

Garcia: It has absolutely lived up to expectations.

Cusano: We have put it to the test creating many different displays, some with very creative concepts, and a wide variety of materials and it has exceeded our expectations.

Ebert: We haven’t had to turn down any projects for the cutter. Zund offers tools for most substrates and thicknesses. The only tool missing from our cutting abilities is a pneumatic tool, which we are considering for thick board materials that are too heavy for our EOT, (Electric Oscillating Tool). A pneumatic oscillating tool (POT) is available from the manufacturer when we need it.

Merrick: Complex contour cutting, short-run full-color boxes, marketing prototypes, and custom corrugated packaging – the M3000 can do all this and more. It’s an ideal finishing solution for today’s graphic suppliers. It is tremendously versatile and fits the needs of our business model perfectly. It has been an outstanding addition to BIGraphics.