Automatic and Programmable Production Paper Cutters
A programmable paper cutter remembers the job so the operator does not have to. Set the spine, store the program, and the back gauge repeats every cut to the thousandth across a full production run. Mid-State Litho is an authorized dealer for the production cutter lines that print shops and trade binderies actually run: Challenge Machinery (Titan 200 Pro, Titan 230 Pro, Titan 265 TC, Champion 305 TC and 370 TC), Triumph from Krug and Priester (the 5560, 6660 and 7260 programmable hydraulics plus the Speedcut 56 and 68), Perfecta BP-series German production cutters from 36 to 88 inch cut width, and Horizon APC and PC automatic programmable cutters. Cut widths run from 20 inch desktop-production machines up to the 88.5 inch Perfecta BP 225. Every guillotine we carry, whatever the drive or control tier, sits under our guillotine paper cutters hub.
What separates a programmable cutter from a manual or semi-automatic guillotine is the control: a microprocessor back gauge with stored job memory, optical cut-line or light-beam safety, and on the automatic machines (Horizon APC, Daeho iCutter, Perfecta BP) a powered clamp and spine-positioning system that cuts operator setup time on repeat work. For a shop running the same trim sizes day after day, that is the difference between an operator babysitting a hand crank and one running two machines. For cutters chosen by knife drive rather than control type, see our hydraulic guillotine paper cutters, the electric paper cutters at the entry tier, and the flywheel guillotine paper cutters where the Daeho iCutter 780 also sits.
Challenge Machinery production cutters
US-built Challenge Machinery production cutters pair a microprocessor back gauge with hydraulic clamp and knife. The Titan 200 Pro (20 inch cut, Tilt Shield and Light Beams variants) and Titan 230 Pro (23 inch cut) are priced and in stock-ready configurations; the Titan 265 TC (26.5 inch), Champion 305 TC (30.5 inch), Champion 370 TC (37 inch) and the Champ 185 Programmable round out the line. The Titan Pro tier is the volume seller, so paid and organic shoppers land here first.
Triumph and Krug and Priester programmable hydraulics
German-engineered Triumph programmable hydraulics use a programmable back gauge with job memory and full safety light beams. The line spans the 5255 and 5260 (20.4 inch), 5560 and 5560 LT (21.6 inch), 6655 and 6660 (25.5 inch), 7260 (28 inch), and the Speedcut 56 (22 inch) and Speedcut 68 (26.77 inch). These are priced models, so we can quote a configuration and a lead time directly.
Perfecta, Horizon and Daeho automatic production cutters
The high-end automatic tier adds a powered clamp and programmable spine positioning for hands-off, high-volume production. Perfecta BP-series German cutters run from the BP 92 (36.2 inch) through BP 115, BP 132, BP 168 and the BP 225 (88.6 inch). Horizon brings the APC-610 (24 inch), APC-450 (17.7 inch) and PC-640 (25.1 inch), and the Daeho iCutter 780 (30.7 inch) rounds out the group. These are quote-only machines, so the next step is a request for a quote rather than a cart.
Manual, programmable or fully automatic: how to choose
Match the control tier to monthly cut volume, repeat-job frequency, maximum trim width, and budget.
- Manual or semi-automatic guillotine. Hand or hydraulic clamp with a manual back gauge. Lowest cost, fine for low-volume or varied work. Below the production tier entirely, see our paper trimmers.
- Programmable hydraulic (Titan Pro, Triumph 5xxx to 7xxx). Microprocessor back gauge with stored programs and a hydraulic clamp and knife. Best for shops running repeat trim sizes.
- Fully automatic (Horizon APC, Daeho iCutter, Perfecta BP). Powered clamp, automatic spine positioning, and programmed multi-cut sequences for high-volume production where operator setup time is the constraint.
Why buy your production cutter from Mid-State Litho
Mid-State Litho has installed and serviced production cutters since 1984. We are an authorized dealer for Challenge Machinery, Triumph (Krug and Priester), Perfecta, Horizon and Daeho, so the machine ships with a real warranty and factory parts, not a gray-market box. Our technicians are factory-trained on these control systems and we sharpen knives in-house, which means a dull or nicked knife is a next-day turnaround instead of a two-week mail-out. We install, level and calibrate the back gauge on site across Michigan and the Great Lakes region, and ship nationwide. Financing and leasing are available on the priced models, so a Titan Pro or Triumph 6660 can go in on a monthly payment instead of a capital outlay.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a paper cutter programmable?
A programmable cutter stores the cut sequence and drives the back gauge to each position, so the operator presses one button per cut instead of measuring and setting each time. On this page the Triumph 5260 and the Triumph 6655 both run 12 cycles per minute, at 20.375 and 25.5 inch cut widths.
What cut width do I need?
Measure the widest sheet you trim, not the widest sheet you print. The machines on this page run from 16.8 inches on the Triumph 4350 up to 30.7 inches on the Daeho iCutter 780. If you cut full parent sheets, the Perfecta BP series is quoted separately.
Hydraulic or electric knife drive?
Electric drives suit tabletop and light production work: the Triumph 4350, 4815, 4850, 4855, 5255, 5260 and 6655 all use one. Hydraulic drives suit heavier stacks and longer days: the Challenge Titan 230 Pro, the Triumph Speedcut 56 and 68, the Triumph 5560 and 7260 and the Formax Cut-True 29H and 31H all use one. Cycle rates on this page run from 8 to 18 per minute, and the Daeho iCutter 780 is flywheel driven at 45.
Do you install the machine and train the operator?
Yes. Mid-State Litho is a Michigan print finishing dealer covering the Great Lakes region, with factory-trained service technicians, installation, operator training, knife sharpening and parts.
Can a production cutter be financed?
Yes. Most production cutters on this page are bought on a monthly payment rather than a capital purchase. Call 1-800-343-4231 or use the financing page for terms.
For cutters chosen by knife drive, see our hydraulic guillotine paper cutters. For digital die cutting rather than stack cutting, see our paper die cutting machines. To match a model to your stock and volume, contact Mid-State Litho.