Die-cutting
A method of converting raw materials with a die-normally a Steel Rule or Rotary tool. In both cases, a sharp tool cuts through a material to produce a finished part.

Embossing
Adding shape to a flat material, using a male/female die, by applying heat, pressure and time. Cold embossing is also possible.

Kiss cut
The process of cutting through one material, but not the other. Often we cut through a material to provide a “tab” for easy application. Think “vinyl decals” they are very often “kiss-cut.”

Lamination
The process of mechanically bringing together two materials, usually with the assistant of nip rollers under pressure. Usually, one of the two materials is, or has, a pressure sensitive adhesive.

Liner
The paper or PE (polyethylene) that we use to “liner” an adhesive. Very often we “back-slit” it to aid in the end users application.

Perf
The process of putting a perforation in a material for easy application. Very similar to the perforation in a roll of paper towels. We can vary our perf from less than one inch to twenty feet.

PPAP
Production Part Approval Process (from Wikipedia): is used in the automotive supply chain to establish confidence in component suppliers and their production processes, by demonstrating that:

“….all customer engineering design record and specification requirements are properly understood by the supplier and that the process has the potential to produce product consistently meeting these requirements during an actual production run at the quoted production rate.” Version 4 March 1st 2006.

PSA
Pressure Sensitive Adhesive – Most of the adhesives that we convert are pressure sensitive. That means that they need initial pressure when applying them to the surface. Normally they do not require additional water, solvents or heat to secure the bond.

Rewind
The process of unwinding and rewinding a roll of material, very often we convert a master roll into smaller and/or shorter rolls.

Rotary Die-Cutting
Rotary die-cutting uses a die that is made in the shape of a cylinder. The die-cutting happens as the material is run through the press at very hi-speed and the tool rotates with it, cutting against an anvil.

Large rotary web presses can use rotary steel rule dies – mid and narrow web rotary presses (like we use) utilize solid steel machined cylinders to die-cut at hi-speed with great accuracy. Mid and narrow web rotary die-cutting works best when the material is thin, available in a roll and the volume is high. Rotary tools are generally more expensive than Steel Rule tools.

Rule
The actual steel blade that is used to build steel rule tooling out of. Very precise and incredibly accurate.

Slitting
(from Wikipedia)also known as log slitting-a shearing operation that cuts a large roll of material into narrower rolls. The log slitting terminology refers back to the historic times of saw mills when they would cut logs into smaller sections for transportation.

Specification/Spec
Many industries, like automotive, have a defined set of conditions that they use to help classify and grade materials. Before we quote a job, we may very well ask, “Does it need to meet any specs?”

Surface
What is the adhesive part adhering to? In knowing what the die-cut part will be applied to helps us determine which adhesive or protective product we should use. Very often our Sales team will ask, “What is the ‘surface’ that you are adhering to?”

Substrate
The backing, or base material, for a single sided adhesive. Typically a polyester.

Steel Rule Die
A tool used for cutting papers, plastics, foams, adhesives, rubber and many other materials. The die is made of very sharp, incredibly accurate, blades which are held together with a high-grade and high-density plywood; the plywood is usually composed out of hard woods such as maple and are free from voids or other imperfections.

Dies are made either flat or rotary. We make flat steel rule dies for “the trade” or in-house use.

Thermal Die-Cutting
A method of die-cutting that uses heat to cut. Allows low cost kiss-cuts of any shape to be made from vinyl film-decals, or signage. Thermal dies are very often photo etched magnesium.