Print trainees learn high-end Finishing on KAMA die cutter

Dresden/Stuttgart, 26.08.2020 - The Johannes Gutenberg School in Stuttgart, Germany, one of the largest vocational schools for print and media professions in Europe, is commissioning a new die cutting and finishing machine for the training year 20/21. Manufacturer KAMA has installed the versatile ProCut 76 Foil and a CPX positioning system in the completely refurbished workshops. Ideal for everyday training: the prospective packaging and media technologists in print processing can complete their projects in one lesson, including finishing.

Hands on! Finishing & Die Cutting
"The many possible applications of the ProCut Foil and the fast changeover to hot foil stamping were important arguments in favor of the KAMA solution," says Erhard Sterba, head of the die cutting workshop at JGS. "We took a close look at the competition." In addition to minimal wear and tear compared to machines with chain gripper system, the ProCut 76 for sheet format 760x600 mm also requires less floor space. Existing platen and cylinder tools can continue to be used.

Being flexible with short makeready times
Quick changeover to hot foil is possible thanks to direct heating of the embossing tools in the insulated KAMA closing frame. It is not necessary to heat up the whole stamping head as is the case with the competition. The necessary temperatures are reached after just 10 minutes and can be individually controlled for six heating zones. The contact time with the foil can be optimized via the servo drive of the ProCut 76. The makeready process back to die cutting is also completed in ten minutes, as there is no waiting time for the die cutting head to cool down.
The ProCut 76 is not the first KAMA machine of the training center in Stuttgart. The JGS has already been training on a ProCut 53 in the classic digital print format for ten years.

Fast positioning, increased efficiency
Another novelty to the training center is the KAMA CPX 76 positioning system for quick mounting of hot foil clichés. The system calculates the target position, taking into account the thermal expansion of mounting plate and clichés and even the expansion of the print sheet. There is no need for time-consuming measuring and fitting of the clichés.

"The time saved is impressive and on top of that, the uptime of the foil stamping machine increases," says Sterba. "Such an increase in efficiency is essential for production on the market - and that's why we train here in cutting-edge technology.”