MCT Shows Versa--Tech™ New Generation of Affordable Digital
Finishing Solutions
In a unique partnership between Milwaukee based MCT and UK based manufacturer Blackman & White – the latest and most innovative solutions in
automated graphic finishing -- has been designed & developed with a first showing at ISA 2013, April 4--5 in Las Vegas.
This 3rd generation finishing system, through a concerted development effort to enable performance equal to the market leaders at a more attractive
price, provides all 3 positive attributes – Quality, Speed AND Price. This allows a growing numbers of smaller and mid--sized digital printing companies to
cost--effectively benefit from automated finishing -- as well as offering current finishing system users improved efficiencies, expanded machine & media
sizes, and the ability to add new materials to their portfolio of customer offerings.
MCT Sells Unique Dual Laser/Knife Digital Finishing Solution to
Comfortex Window Fashions
MCT has been selected by Comfortex Window Solutions to provide a grand format digital finishing system for its Maplewood, NY window fashion
manufacturing facility. Comfortex has become a pioneer in using digitally printed fabrics to produce custom products for its customers. Rather
than needing over 10,000 rolls of different types of fabrics in all of the available colors, Comfortex now uses grand format digital printing to “print
on demand,” only stocking those fabrics that are not yet able to be successfully printed. According to Jim Barss, VP Manufacturing, “the final
step in our new manufacturing process was to select a cutting technology that would match the versatility of our digital printers, allowing
Comfortex to maximize throughput and minimize the waste of expensive materials. After looking for two years, Comfortex selected a MasterCut™
dual solution manufactured by Blackman & White LTD. of the UK, and sourced from MCT.”
The 3.2 M wide by 10 M long system carries both a 100 watt CO2 laser and a set of tangential knife cutting tools, including a unique self sharpening
rotary fabric cutter, so that all materials sold by Comfortex can be cut by a single manufacturing process. Through the use of the industry standard
i-cut® vision system (from Esko, Inc.), nested prints for any number of window coverings can be printed at one time and accurately cut to size. In
addition, by moving to such a versatile digital flatbed cutter, Comfortex is now able to cut single pieces of fabric that include a scalloped botton of
a shade, rather than having to cut rectangles only and add the scalloped portion as a part of a separate manufacturing process.
MCT Releases New Affordable Digital Finishing Solutions with U.K.
Partner Blackman & White
For the last 3 years, the founders of MCT had been actively looking for a quality digital finishing product that would appeal to the mid-range of the digital
print marketplace - one costing approximately $100K to match the pricing of the mid range flatbed wide format printers. Recently, MCT has finalized
an agreement to represent a new line of products specifically for the wide format digital printing industry, developed with Blackman & White of the U.K..
Two lines of products defined together will be imported and supported by MCT in the Americas.
MCT can now offer an extremely cost effective new (to the Americas) line of digital finishing system solutions for flexible, semi flexible and rigid materials,
with emphasis on textile converting, including vision registration for accurate “cut to print” production. The new systems range from 5 ft. by 10 ft.
cutter/routers to 3.2m wide or wider flatbed finishing solutions for fabric and semi flexible goods cutting, to match the widths of the newest roll printers.
Industry standard i-cut™ is available on all systems.
According to Alex White, Managing Director of Blackman & White; “The digital printing industry will continue to experience significant growth, however,
small to mid-size printers are in dire need of a medium priced family of advanced finishing tools, not before available in a standard product range. We are
proud to partner with the knowledgable team of professionals at MCTwho have deep relationships within the industry to bring our new family of products
to market."
At SGIA, MCT, together with Blackman & White, allowed printers the opportunity to view the range of affordable solutions that MCT can now provide.
“Both the Value Line” with complete cutting and routing solutions including vision registration for “cut to print” accuracy starting at $89,500 and the
MasterCut line with its ability to easily provide custom sized solution for unique cutting requirements were both well received. These custom sized
systems are able to add laser cutting to the mix of capabiolities without limiting the traditional knife and routing capabilities and still be attractively
priced. MCT and Blackman & White are the only supplier able to reach both segments of the market not currently well served by the other vendors’
solutions. The comments made by SGIA attendees clearly indicated that MCT’s philosophy hit a strong note with the visitors to its booth.
