For years, print providers invested heavily in faster presses to increase output and meet demand. But in today’s production environment, that strategy alone is no longer enough.
Modern digital presses have evolved to the point where they are no longer the primary bottleneck. Instead, the challenge has shifted—finishing, cutting, and workflow processes are now the limiting factors.
The Bottleneck Has Moved
High-speed digital presses can now produce large volumes of printed material with minimal setup time. However, this increased output often leads to downstream delays in:
- Cutting and trimming
- Creasing and folding
- Laminating and mounting
- Contour cutting and finishing
Without the right finishing equipment, print shops risk creating a backlog—where printed jobs pile up waiting to be completed.
Why Finishing Is Now Critical
Finishing is no longer just the final step—it’s the key to maintaining overall production efficiency.
If finishing can’t keep up, it leads to:
- Slower turnaround times
- Increased labor costs
- Production bottlenecks
- Missed deadlines
To stay competitive, print providers must invest in automated, high-efficiency finishing solutions that match the speed of their presses.
Bridging the Gap with the Right Equipment
Automated Finishing with Duplo
Solutions like the Duplo DPC-600 allow print shops to eliminate traditional dies and move directly from print to finished product. With cutting, creasing, and perforating in one system, it’s ideal for short-run and customized jobs.
Precision Cutting with MBM Corporation
The MBM Triumph Cutters—enhanced with VRCut Ready and Speedcut—bring automation and speed to one of the most critical finishing steps. These systems reduce setup time, improve accuracy, and increase throughput for repeat jobs.
Automated Contour Cutting with Graphtec
For label and decal production, the Graphtec CE8000-ASF enables unattended cutting with automatic sheet feeding. This eliminates manual handling and ensures consistent, high-precision results.
A Smarter, End-to-End Workflow
To truly eliminate bottlenecks, print providers must take a holistic approach:
- Print faster with modern digital presses
- Finish smarter with automated cutting and processing
- Integrate workflows to reduce manual touchpoints
By aligning finishing capabilities with print output, businesses can unlock the full potential of their production environment.
Final Thoughts
The press is no longer the limiting factor in print production—finishing is.
Print providers who recognize this shift and invest in the right solutions will gain a significant competitive advantage. With equipment from Duplo, MBM Corporation, and Graphtec, businesses can eliminate bottlenecks, improve efficiency, and deliver faster, higher-quality results.
Source Credit
This blog is based on insights from the article “Press Is No Longer a Bottleneck” published by PrintAction.
