Collide Partners with Rollem International to Modernize their Die-Cutting Processes
Collide is a leading brand, content, and production powerhouse dedicated to delivering rapid market growth through creative storytelling and large-scale production. Located in a 750,000 sq. ft facility, they are equipped with cutting-edge print and finishing technology to ensure top-quality results and streamlined automation. With end-to-end services that span creative concept development, prototyping, production, and logistics/warehousing, the Collide team supports their clients from brief to project close.
Challenge and Solutions
Our previous technology was a fleet of clamshell die-cutters. These did not have the speed necessary to keep up with new print technologies like that of Collide's HP Indigo 15K press. We needed something new in the B2 size to keep up with our B2 print production.
"During our extensive research on various brands of flexo-magnetic rotary die-cutters, we ultimately chose Rollem's Insignia model. We were told by multiple industry veterans and experts that Rollem was the "gold standard" in rotary cutting. We liked how the Rollem was built "like a tank" compared to some other competing brands," states Ross Wells.
Collide's production team notes the valuable improvements since installing the Insignia7. The speed of which we can process press sheets has increased dramatically, the quality of the tooling has allowed us to make cleaner specialty cuts like kiss cuts and perfs. The auto stripping feature is new to us but a game changer on some of the products we would need to hand strip in the past.
Other benefits include overall efficiency being increased by doubling our output – previously, a job would take all day to finish while we can now do the same job in half a day. We now have the ability to handle multiple types of products, some of which can be challenging as they are printed on synthetic substrates. The automatic matrix removal diverts the sheet shell and delivers finished products on multiple lanes of the conveyor table.
"Early help from the Die-Cutting Product Manager to share his knowledge on the design and ordering of the flexo-dies, along with the installation and training team were excellent. They came prepared to help our team to understand the operation of the system, while also assisting us to produce a challenging project." states Ross Wells.
Conclusion and Looking Ahead
Collide's clients include a variety of retail and convenience brands that require several types of marketing signage. "One product we produce in a wide range for these clients is retail wobblers. The Insignia has greatly enhanced our die-cutting and finishing processes for this important product line. The Insignia will help us reduce our costs and be better equipped to win work specifically in the folding carton and sheeted labeling markets." states Haylee DeFrancisis, Manager of Marketing and Design.