Versatility and precision of cutting table opens new markets for 140-year-old business
Warwick Publishing Company has acquired a Kongsberg X24 Edge digital cutting table, accelerating the business’s move into new markets with its wide format offering.
Alexander Paschal, president and owner of the almost 100-years-old Warwick Publishing Co., explained how the latest addition to the facility in St Charles, Illinois, was part of a strategic plan to continue the expansion into a growing sector. “We’re a fifth-generation family business, and for the last few decades our focus has been solely on the production of calendars and a wide range of other paper-based items for the promotional products industry,” he said. “We already have a fleet of three older cutting machines as part of our set-up, and after acquiring a new Fujifilm printer we needed a new cutting machine that could deliver the precision and handle the intricate designs demanded by these wide format products.”
Alexander chose the Kongsberg X24 Edge to complement the Warwick Publishing Co. production suite, with its combination of power, precision and versatility being key factors. “This is our first Kongsberg table, and it has already opened up all wide format print markets to us,” said Alexander. “Previously we’ve been able to make small frames and prototypes with our existing machine base, but now we’re able to deliver full production capabilities.”
Delivering speeds of 30m/min with acceleration of 0.3G, the Kongsberg X24 Edge can handle the full spectrum of wide-format display, signage and packaging jobs, delivering exceptional quality results at high production speed.
Matt Sisson, Territory Sales Manager with Kongsberg Precision Cutting Systems, said the addition of the X24 Edge was an investment in the future. “Working with a Kongsberg cutting table means that Alexander and the Warwick Publishing team don’t have to choose between speed, precision or production power,” he said. “The engineering of the rack and pinion drive, the construction of the table top, the quality of the motors and the traverse all ensure that the table provides the greatest cutting accuracy and consistency, which is crucial for a business like this that prides itself on quality.”
Importantly, the Kongsberg X24 Edge can be easily upgraded in both speed and acceleration to ensure it keeps up with business demands – something Alexander is keen to exploit.
“The speed of the new machine is nice, but that’s never been a bottleneck for us,” said Alexander. “We’re a specialty shop. We do all kinds of cuts, and we needed a machine that could handle a variety of jobs while delivering maximum quality. The tooling options Kongsberg has developed were a big plus for us – we took the VibraCut, Drag knife and Creasing tools so that we can handle almost any job on any material. The fact we can add on a router as and when needed is a bonus too.
“With the X24 Edge, we can upgrade the power, speed and tools as we need to, so it’s ideal for us,” he added. “Our primary market is small-to-medium sized customers, so our runs are usually anywhere from 250 to 1000. That means our cut-sheet work will continue with our existing machines, and we will be using the Kongsberg for those wide-format jobs that are all about the intricate precise cuts.
“This has really opened up our capabilities and enabled us to expand into new markets,” said Alexander. “The ease of use means we can get consistent results, and it really can handle anything.”
Alexander also praised the support he and his team had received from the engineers at Kongsberg Precision Cutting Systems. “We’ve had the table since the summer and it’s been plain sailing since then,” he said. “It’s great having such easy access to troubleshoot. For example, if there’s ever an issue translating a design to the cut, we can get on the phone to the Kongsberg team and within 20 minutes we have solved it and we’re back to cutting at full throttle.
“As the businesses continues to grow, I’d love the order book to be overflowing so much that I have the excuse to get another Kongsberg,” he said.
