Although hydraulic paper cutters tend to be significantly more expensive than their electric counterparts, they are often the best solution for a high production print shop or for cutting in large departments. Hydraulic cutters offer a number of benefits over electric or manual paper cutters. Given the importance of productivity in any business, it can be easy to see why a hydraulic paper cutter might be right for you.
If you're doing a great deal of production cutting for business cards, catalogs, direct mail pieces or any other printed materials, it's important to consider whether your current cutter is sufficient. Hydraulic units offer increased accuracy, reduced maintenance, and increased capacities to your operation. Because of the way hydraulic systems work, they tend to need less service and are much harder to overwork than a direct electric motor. Also, hydraulics offer significantly more even distribution over the cutting blade which creates the most accurate cut possible.
The decision to move to a hydraulic cutter over an electric unit is an important one. Because of the cost involved in such a purchase, these machines should be considered using your return on investment calculations. Consider the lifetime cost of the unit; installation and training, transportation, maintenance contract, and the depreciation of the unit over time. The great part about hydraulic paper cutters, especially the top brands, is that they do not diminish in value as quickly as electric cutters. In other words, there may still be a market for your cutter in 10 years when you're ready to get a new unit. This can be huge in offsetting the cost of a new machine. Also consider your increased productivity. How much can you currently cut per hour, per week, etc.? Often, a hydraulic cutter can more than triple this productivity, while giving you more versatility across various print styles and sizes. As you begin relating the initial investment costs over time, it's much easier to see the lifetime value of a hydraulic paper cutter. For more information about how to evaluate these costs and determine ROI, visit www.challengemachinery.com.
