As of December 2019, the Edelmann Group in Heidenheim has been operating a Rapida
RDC 106 rotary die-cutter for the past two years. Known for its commitment to innovative processes and technologies, the company is a pilot user of the die-cutter in packaging production, accompanying developments from the first tentative steps, through intensive
field-testing to final series maturity. The new die-cutting machine is currently used in daily production.
The Rapida RDC 106 is configured with three process units and handles folding cartons destined for international brands in the health care, beauty, and consumer goods sectors. In most cases, the products are cut, embossed, and stripped in a single inline process.
The specialists at Edelmann are delighted with the high production performance of the rotary die-cutter. It runs at speeds up to 15,000 sheets an hour and also impresses with very fast makeready. “That makes the Rapida RDC 106 so interesting for us,” says technical director Oliver Sattel. “Our competitiveness is based on a combination of quality and speed. For that reason, we need to be involved in the development of new machines from the very beginning – and the Rapida RDC 106 is a perfect example for successful participation in the development process from the drawing board through to series maturity. We view this as a genuine partnership – and we have maintained such a relationship with Koenig & Bauer for
many years.”
Rotary die-cutting’s benefits include high-speed embossing
Alongside the sheer speed, the highquality cutting and creasing results achieved with standardized tools are an essential strength of the Rapida RDC 106. The excellent embossing Rotary die-cutter from Koenig & Bauer in daily production results at a previously unknown production speed are a further bonus. The facility to assign individual processes
to separate towers permits a significantly wider range of product options compared to traditional die-cutting systems. Flexibility regarding the length of cutting and creasing lines is one example.
Before the Rapida RDC 106 could be fully integrated into production, it was necessary to adapt a few aspects of the company’s workflows for a rotary process, for example, tool procurement and sheet layouts. The employees, too, had to rethink the approach to die-cutting jobs. Once everything was sorted, the quality of the products was spot on. Rotary die-cutting is fundamentally different from a flat-bed process. Only the final result – a folding carton – is identical.
Working together with Koenig & Bauer, Edelmann has now reached a level that completely meets the company’s expectations. Oliver Sattel explains, “We are proud to have been part of this development process. Cutting-edge technology and employees who know exactly what they are doing – those are our guarantees for an efficient production process leading not only to highquality products, but also – and above all – to satisfied customers.”
