Monthly Archives: February 2026

For Printrade, a fast-growing Australian trade printer specialising in high-end wall coverings, stickers, and posters, production speed and quality are critical. As demand for peel-and-stick wallpapers and sheet stickers increased, their existing equipment became a bottleneck. To stay ahead, Printrade turned to Summa and its innovative S Class 3 roll cutter with tangential knife technology.

Trade-only large format and flatbed printing

Printrade is a fast-growing Australian trade printer, rebranded in 2022 from Complete Graphics. The company specialises in high-end large-format printing for resellers, with a strong focus on the home décor market, including peel-and-stick wallpapers, wall coverings, and premium sheet stickers. With a compact team of five, Printrade delivers reliable quality and fast turnaround, making it a trusted partner for resellers seeking more than just standard print.

To ensure consistent quality and minimal downtime, Printrade needs to invest in premium, industrial-grade equipment from global leaders. Every machine is selected for speed, precision, and reliability at scale.

The challenge: bottleneck for increasing volumes

For example, cutting a single roll of thick peel-and-stick wallpaper stickers could take as long as five to six hours. On top of that, the cutting process often produced inconsistent results, which meant extra testing and sometimes even reprints.

A key requirement to switch to Summa was to gain the ability to keep pace with Printrade’s Canon Colorado printers, creating workflow bottlenecks. To continue growing, Printrade needed a cutting solution that combined speed, cleaner cuts, and seamless integration with its printers to unlock higher throughput.

The solution: Summa S Class 3 with tangential knife technology

In 2024, Printrade turned to Pozitive, Summa’s Australian reseller, and invested in two Summa S Class 3 160 TC cutters equipped with tangential knife technology.  

“The reason why I went with Summa is the tangential knife,” says Paul Ilieski, owner of Printrade. “As we often have to cut thicker materials, this technology helps us achieve a cleaner cut.  It offers more efficient, better quality, and more throughput.”

The cutters immediately proved their value: smart sorting and paneling allow cutting speeds up to 50 percent faster, while the tangential knife delivers cleaner cuts and extends blade life for consistent output. Operators appreciate the high usability, with intuitive controls and minimal setup required. At the same time, the machines integrate seamlessly with Printrade’s printers and Caldera RIP software, keeping the workflow smooth and bottleneck-free.

The impact: faster turnaround and seamless workflow

Since adopting the Summa S Class 3 cutters, Printrade has achieved:

• Higher throughput: Cutting times reduced from 5–6 hours to just 3 hours per roll. Printrade can now cut and deliver up to eight rolls of peel-and-stick wallpaper per day, compared to just two before.
• No more bottlenecks: The cutters keep pace with the printers, ensuring an uninterrupted workflow.
• Cleaner, more consistent cuts: Tangential knife technology eliminates reprints and cutting issues.
• Ease of use: Operators required just 10 minutes of training to get started.
• Business growth: Expanded capacity allows Printrade to serve a growing customer base and boost customer satisfaction.

“Now there’s no bottleneck at all,” says Paul Ilieski. “The printers and Summa’s S3 cutters work hand-in-hand. We can comfortably take on more jobs without delays. It’s safe to say that the cutters have paid themselves off very quickly.”

Looking Forward

Printrade is committed to sticking with Summa for its vinyl cutters and is considering future investments as volumes continue to increase. With the S3’s unmatched combination of speed, precision, and ease of use, Printrade has positioned itself as a reliable partner for high-end trade printing in Australia.

PSW Paper & Print Limited is proud to announce its appointment as an authorised service and repair centre for the Summa F Series flatbed cutters across the UK. This important accreditation further strengthens PSW’s commitment to delivering expert technical support, fast response times, and dependable aftercare for customers operating mission-critical cutting systems in demanding production environments.

Summa is a globally respected manufacturer of high-performance flatbed cutting solutions, with the F Series widely recognised for its precision, versatility, and reliability across signage, packaging, display graphics, textiles, and industrial applications. Designed to handle a broad range of materials — from rigid boards and foam to vinyl, acrylics, and composite substrates — the F Series has become a cornerstone of modern finishing departments where accuracy and consistency are essential.

As an authorised service and repair centre, PSW is fully equipped to support the ongoing performance and longevity of Summa F Series systems, ensuring customers achieve maximum uptime and maximum return on investment. In production environments where even short periods of downtime can disrupt schedules and impact revenue, access to accredited technical expertise provides invaluable peace of mind.

By achieving authorised status, PSW’s service engineers are formally trained and approved to carry out diagnostics, preventative maintenance, repairs, firmware updates, and part replacements in line with Summa’s exacting standards. This gives UK customers confidence that their equipment is being serviced by specialists with direct manufacturer backing, up-to-date technical insight, and access to genuine components.

In addition to reactive support, PSW’s authorised status enables a more proactive service approach. Through scheduled maintenance visits, system health checks, and performance optimisation, customers can minimise unexpected breakdowns and extend the operational life of their equipment. This preventative focus not only safeguards production output but also protects long-term capital investment.

Benefits for Summa F Series Customers

• Authorised Expertise: Summa-accredited engineers with specialist knowledge of Summa F Series flatbed cutters.
• Fast, Reliable Support: Reduced downtime through responsive on-site service, remote diagnostics where appropriate, and efficient fault resolution.
• Genuine Parts & Approved Procedures: Repairs carried out using authorised components and manufacturer-approved methods to maintain machine integrity and warranty compliance.
• Extended Equipment Lifespan: Proactive maintenance and professional servicing to protect cutting accuracy, consistency, and long-term performance.
• UK-Based Service Partner: Local, nationwide support from a trusted provider with a strong reputation in print and finishing technology.

“Becoming an authorised service and repair centre for the Summa F Series is a significant achievement for PSW,” said Tom Skinner, Sales Director at PSW Paper & Print Limited. “It reflects the strength of our technical expertise and our ongoing commitment to supporting customers with reliable, manufacturer-approved service that keeps their production running smoothly. Our goal is always to ensure customers can focus on delivering for their own clients, knowing their equipment is supported by specialists.”

This appointment further reinforces PSW’s position as a trusted technical partner for UK businesses relying on advanced cutting and finishing solutions. As production technologies continue to evolve, the need for knowledgeable, responsive service support becomes increasingly critical. With authorised support across much of the UK, Summa F Series users can operate with confidence, knowing expert assistance is never far away.

For service enquiries, maintenance support, or more information, visit www.psw.co.uk.

Specialised, variable printing is at the heart of Trekz’s business, whether it’s producing thousands of unique QR codes or delivering stickers with programmable NFC chips. These innovative applications demand absolute precision and efficiency, which is why Trekz turned to Summa’s F Series flatbed cutters as the cornerstone of its finishing process.

Family business with focus on the future

Founded in 1948 and now run by the third generation, Trekz has evolved from a traditional print shop into a forward-looking online printing company. Since 2001, the company has operated as an online print specialist, and in 2008 it expanded to Germany with Trekz GmbH.

Trekz focuses on delivering stickers, labels, and packaging with speed and reliability. The company is known for its strong customer orientation and ability to consistently meet deadlines across borders.

The challenge: scaling sticker production without compromise

As customer demand grew, Trekz needed to scale production capacity without losing accuracy or consistency. Requiring a solution that could handle large sticker orders efficiently, maintain high precision and integrate smoothly into their digital workflow while solving some bottleneck issues from the past was the end goal of Trekz’ search.

“We needed a system that could deliver a fully cut product, both kiss-cut and through-cut, in one go. Efficiency and reliability were key,” says Mark de Lange, owner of Trekz.

The solution: Summa F1612 flatbed cutters

Trekz gradually built up its cutting capacity with three Summa F1612 flatbed cutters, two of which are equipped with conveyor extensions for roll-based production. All machines run with the Go Produce Pro Pack upgrade, enabling advanced workflow automation.

The systems integrate seamlessly with Trekz’s Epson solvent printers, Mimaki UV printer, and Minolta digital press. Combined with Caldera RIP and Trekz’s own imposition software, the result is a streamlined, end-to-end production process.

All installations were provided by Vink VTS, Summa’s dealer in the Netherlands. “The installations went excellently,” says Mark de Lange. “The technicians are very experienced, and the machines require little maintenance.”

The impact: efficiency, reliability, and growth

With the F1612 cutters, Trekz has transformed its workflow and expanded capacity:

• Consistent high quality: Every sticker sheet meets the same high standard of accuracy and finishing thanks to our consistent quality contour cutting.
• Efficient workflow: Kiss-cutting and through-cutting can be done in one workflow, which results in an efficient production process.
• Shorter lead times: Large orders are processed without interruptions, helping Trekz meet demanding deadlines.
• Business growth: The ability to deliver more in less time supports customer base expansion.

“Because the F Series delivers a fully cut product, the workflow is extremely efficient. It saves us valuable time and ensures constant high quality,” says Mark de Lange.

The future

Looking ahead, Trekz will continue to align its investments with customer demand. Additional Summa tools, such as milling options for rigid substrates, are under consideration.

As Mark de Lange concludes: “When order volumes require it, we will definitely expand our Summa fleet further. The F Series cutters have proven to be a smart and reliable investment for us.”

Discover Trekz Netherlands

Discover Trekz Germany