Your printing press may cost millions. Yet a loss can begin with a few unnecessary centimetres of paper.
The sheet is larger than the job requires. The offcut goes into the waste container. The next order needs another size, the warehouse lacks the right format, and production has to be rearranged. All of this happens before the first image is printed.
For a printer or packaging manufacturer, the question is uncomfortable and simple: does the order determine your sheet size, or does your warehouse?
From reel to sheet: greater freedom, greater responsibility
A sheeter converts reel material into sheets for subsequent operations. With the right production organisation, in-house sheeting lets you prepare sizes around individual jobs. It creates opportunities for better material utilisation, while also requiring planning for reel inventory, maintenance and internal logistics.
Imagine a job where checking the layout and necessary production margins allows you to reduce the input sheet area by 3%. For 10 tonnes of material, the theoretical reduction would be 300 kg for the same number of finished items. This is an illustrative calculation, rather than a savings claim for a particular machine. Actual results must be demonstrated using your jobs.
Different papers, different formats: CHM-1400/1700/1900
The CHM-1400/1700/1900 single rotary series combines unwinding, decurling, longitudinal slitting, cross-cutting and sheet delivery. The listed material range is 60–550 gsm, with working widths of 1400, 1700 and 1900 mm.
This series merits consideration for businesses processing a varied mix of papers and boards. Start with your actual product mix: which materials repeat, in what quantities, and how often does the sheet size change?
For board, quality begins at the edge: CHM-SGT1400T
The CHM-SGT1400T uses synchronised upper and lower rotary knives. Its listing specifies a working width up to 1400 mm and a material range of 200–1000 gsm, addressing board and heavier paper grades.
For packaging production, testing should start with the sheet edge: cut cleanliness, loose fibres and material behaviour during subsequent feeding. Request a trial with your own board and follow the sheets through printing and die-cutting.
When width becomes a strategic choice: CHM-SGT1400/1700/1900
The CHM-SGT1400/1700/1900 dual rotary sheeters offer three widths and a 200–1000 gsm material range. Published data lists ±0.5 mm cutting accuracy, hydraulic shaftless unwinding, web guiding and automatic sheet jogging.
A wider machine makes sense when your orders and available reels let you use that width. Check cutting layouts, expected volumes and the space required for the line. Unused capacity carries a cost too.
Frequent format changes deserve attention: CHM-SGT1400H/1700H
The CHM-SGT1400H/1700H series focuses on automatic positioning of the longitudinal slitting knives. The listed material range is 150–1000 gsm, with cutting accuracy of ±0.3 mm.
The revealing question here is how much time you lose between jobs. Where formats change frequently, assess automation through a real changeover trial: from the last good sheet of one order to the first good sheet of the next.
Measure useful output before buying maximum speed
Metres per minute and cuts per minute measure different things. Achievable output depends on sheet length, material, configuration and job changes. Compare usable sheets over a complete shift, waste and labour requirements.
Send Graphotrade five real jobs: material type, grammage, reel width, finished sheet size and monthly volume. Add the number of format changes and available floor space. These details provide a practical starting point for selecting a CHM configuration and building an investment case you can defend.
Your next competitive advantage may begin before printing — with a sheet prepared precisely for the order.
