NO FLASH IN THE PAN (Laser digital converting presents compe

Will the laser eventually become the standard for diecutting? Farkas says yes. "In ten years time, traditional dies will have almost disappeared from the major converting companies. Everyone will be using laser systems," he estimates.

Chow maintains, for now, that lasers claim a very specific portion of finishing applications. "Laser digital converting is very precise, high-level technology, and there is a cost to that," he comments. "If you can achieve desired speed and accuracy with rotary, go rotary." Both technologies have their place, he adds, and both could work well together on the same manufacturing line.