Rob Kuehl

Are your blade's a little worn? The newest cutters on the market will bring some sharp features into your bindery. (The online version of this story features information not included in the print version.) by MARK SMITH Cut. Knife. Blade. Guillotine. The terminology alone shows why safety is a must when it comes to paper cutters. Two-handed cut activation, non-repeat knife cycles and auto-stop infrared light curtains are just some of the safety features that have been mandated by law and market demand. Because manufacturers are not willing to compromise much in this area, all the latest cutters are endowed with

Programmable cutters put the bindery in-line with the rest of your equipment, boosting productivity. Automation fever—catch it. Better than the flu and more important to your well being than the office coffee pot, automation in paper cutting is fast becoming the next big thing. "Say you got some little 3-1⁄2x7˝ job," proposes Roland Stroud, production manager at the Mays Mission For The Handicapped in-plant, in Heber Springs, Ark. "You can program it so you only have to hit the button once. That way one person can be sitting there boxing while the machine is cutting by itself." And that, in a nutshell, is