Spinning dies turn a profit

The type of material being run is often the deciding factor between solid and flexible dies. Since the blade thickness of flexible dies is limited, Smith said, they cannot cut through thicker materials with multiple layers.

"Solid dies are also more cost effective when cutting most materials, as they will last longer and are able to be retooled," he said. "While a flexible die costs less than a solid die, a solid die will generally prove more favorable to your bottom line when you compare total die costs for long-running applications."