For 200 custom boxes across 20 designs, select a digital cutter using a timed job mix that includes file preparation, loading, creasing, cutting and collection. Then check that assembly can keep up. The important figure is the number of accepted boxes ready at your stated handoff point during the available shift.
Turn the daily target into a job list
Two hundred boxes across twenty designs may mean ten boxes of each design, but actual orders often have uneven quantities. List the quantity, blank size, board grade, crease operations and expected revision frequency for every design. State whether the target means flat blanks or folded, glued boxes. A machine quote becomes more useful when the supplier knows the actual output boundary.
| Job input | What to verify in the trial |
|---|---|
| Largest blank | It fits the usable bed with loading and registration allowances |
| Smallest repeat quantity | Setup time remains visible in the daily total |
| Board mix | Tools and crease settings can be changed through the planned sequence |
| Finished output | Cutting, sorting and assembly all support the delivery target |
Compare a complete shift rather than one easy box
Ask the supplier to process a representative sequence including a large carton, a detailed insert and a short repeat order. Time each step and record good blanks. If printing or assembly occurs elsewhere, include the queue and staffing in the production plan. For planning, divide available cutting-room minutes by the required accepted quantity, then compare the result with the observed weighted cycle. Count changeovers once for each design and run time for the actual quantity.
If the plan falls short, identify whether it is constrained by loading, tool changes, file work or assembly before paying for more table area. Ask the supplier to price only the options that address the measured bottleneck. This article’s daily target is a buyer scenario and must be tested on the proposed configuration.
Frequently asked questions
Does a faster cutting head guarantee 200 boxes a day?
Confirm total workflow time. A rapid contour can still leave file changes, creasing and collection as the limiting steps.
Should I test all twenty designs?
Test the full mix when possible. At minimum, validate the extremes and record the assumptions used for the remaining designs.
What should I send for a configuration discussion?
Send the design files, board samples, daily quantities, shift length and the point at which you count a completed box. Ask JEKE for a documented mixed-job demonstration.
Plan a sample trial with JEKE
Contact JEKE with the trial details above. Explore the digital cutting machine range and check the material application overview for context.
Related guide: How to Plan Printing, Laminating, Cutting, and Outsourcing in a Small Shop.
