Smaller-sized Colter & Peterson paper cutters producing big results for Tidewater Direct

Paterson, NJ – January 17, 2014 – Tidewater Direct has developed quite a reputation with its nationwide client roster. The high demand web offset printer of direct mail, continuous forms and pharmaceutical printing and folding produce top-notch quality work by staying ahead of the curve with carefully calculated capital equipment improvements. Since adding three dynamic paper cutters from Colter & Peterson, the workflow is significantly enhanced and capacity has doubled at its Baltimore and Centreville, Maryland facilities.

Tidewater added a pair of Saber® X15, 45-inch heavy duty papers cutters, an air removing jogger and two air tables to its bindery department in Centreville during the fourth quarter of 2012. Two months ago, its Baltimore facility welcomed a new space-saving 27-inch Prism PC®, complete with state-of-the-art technology. That location does not have a bindery says Geoffrey Eisenberg, VP of Operations, but it handles the bulk of the company’s laser cut sheets for its continuous forms work.

“We run a 24/6 operation and two of the cutters are running 24 hours a day,” informed Eisenberg. “Colter & Peterson offered us training on how to use the interface on the Prism cutter and we were able to have our crew trained in half a day without any downtime.”

Actually, Tidewater Direct has four paper cutters from Colter & Peterson. The relationship between the two companies dates back to 2006 when Tidewater purchased two machines for its third operation in West Branch, Iowa, near Iowa City. C&P also has an in-state service operation in Des Moines.

“Since we bought our first cutter from Colter & Peterson,” said Eisenberg, “we’ve only had one minor issue that needed servicing and it was taken care of. Overall, we are very satisfied with these paper cutters.”

Eisenberg said installing the highly reliable Saber X15s removed the bottleneck in the Centreville facility and allows work from 12 paper folders on the production floor to flow non-stop. The air removing jogger has reduced labor time by jogging the press sheets and removing air automatically, in addition to helping with cutting consistencies. The 45-inch cutters are accurate to within 1/64th of an inch since they include the Microcut computer control system. Cutting sequences are stored so the back gauge automatically positions itself for each individual cut.

The 4,000-lb. 27-inch Prism PC sports a Microcut system with 12-inch touchscreen, and programmable, electronic and variable hydraulic clamp pressure controls. Other benefits include infrared photo eye safety controls, a two-handed cut release with time delay and non-repeat functions, chrome main and side tables and a low-pressure air system with a blower.

Eisenberg said he wasn’t in the market for a 27-inch cutter but was curious when he received an email from another a larger company. When they dropped the ball in responding, he mentioned it to Bruce Peterson. Within hours, Eisenberg had a deal for another paper cutter.

“I didn’t know C&P offered a cutter that small. Bruce and his people have done a good job and it’s nice to work with a smaller company that is responsive and invested in their success.”