Colter & Peterson Paper Cutter Helps Converter
- Published: May 19, 2015
PATERSON, NJ | Colter & Peterson reports that American Converting, Lincolnton, NC, called the independent distributor of paper cutters and paper handling equipment and exchanged its old 110-in. Lawson paper cutters for a reconditioned one the same size, and with the newest electronics.
Realizing their company was on pace for a record year and projecting a fast start for the first quarter of 2015, American Converting’s Tom Eubanks and Ted Varberg wanted to increase productivity. That led to the call to Colter & Peterson, and the company has since exceeded its first quarter projections. 
“Our industry is very busy right now,” says Eubanks, American Converting’s VP and general manager.” With the improvement in the economy, manufacturing has increased and created a higher demand for packaging. From the food industry to furniture, all of our segments are busy. With the consolidation of the larger paper manufacturers and more focus on larger runs, it has created more opportunities for converters like us. Most of those larger paper manufacturers have backlogs of at least three weeks with larger minimum run requirements. That’s allowing us to take advantage of filling customer needs faster and handle the small specialty runs.”
Eubanks made a connection with Colter & Peterson, North America’s largest independent distributor of paper cutters and paper handling equipment, the year American Converting first opened. “At the time, we needed a heavy duty cutter like the Seybold to cut pads and custom sizes, says Eubanks. “It has worked out well, we expanded the business, and the Seybold is still running and producing for us. All we need to do is regular maintenance on it.”
Eubanks says purchasing the Lawson with a Microcut computer guided back gauge system and a custom “Flying Carpet” table system similar to the one at sister company Badger Paperboard, Milwaukee, WI, has exceeded expectations.
“The older Lawson had mechanical issues. The new one is very strong and user-friendly, and it is rebuilt like a new machine. It can handle a truckload of paper a day; that’s 20 tons of material,” he says, indicating they run the cutters for 10-hr shifts, usually four but sometimes five days a week.
“We cut laminated board up to one-quarter inch thick, and with a 6-inch lift at 225 point, and we can cut as many as 26 boards at one time. Typically, we keep our sheet size in the 48 x 48-inch range, but occasionally we get an order where it needs to be 100 inches wide. That’s no problem for the Lawson.
Microcut memorizes cut sequences and automatically guides the back gauge into position for each action. In American Converting’s case, Eubanks cuts his material within 1/32-in. tolerance, and the “Flying Carpet” lift table allows his operators to cut material faster.
“The crew sets up paper behind the cutter, slide and load the pallets, and push a button,” says Eubanks. “They don’t have to pick up any of the material, the air nozzles float it right off the table, and it comes out the other end. Our guys don’t have to lift much so they’re not fatigued, so the Lawson is great as a time-saver and for safety issues.”
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