Digital Cutting Tables Replace Dies for Packaging Prototyping and Short Runs

Packaging converters are adopting digital cutting tables from suppliers including Kongsberg, Zünd, Summa, and Plockmatic to produce prototypes and short runs without manufacturing dies. Vendors report that camera vision and registration systems yield a saleable first sample, while runs around 2,500 pieces balance automation and flexibility. Conventional die cutting retains economies of scale as run lengths increase and jobs become standardized.