Loupe Americas 2026 dies and tooling review

As presses get wider, runs get shorter and converters struggle to hire skilled operators, die and tooling suppliers are working to keep up, with wider dies, flexible dies and more automated technology.

At Loupe Americas 2026, Maxcess featured technology from its brand portfolio, including RotoMetrics, Fife, Tidland, Magpowr, International Cutting Die, Componex, Webex and Valley Roller. Highlights included the new Magpowr Maxtrac tension controller, an automated SmartSlit system, and an RD Auto Score, the last of which provides automatic and repeatable positioning and cut-depth tuning of score blades. 

‘Operators are becoming harder and harder to find,’ says Aaron Powers, vice president of sales at Maxcess. ‘There’s a wave of retirements across the industry. How do you fill that gap? You can’t one-for-one hire somebody new to replace that 30, 40 years of knowledge. The only way to bridge that gap is more automation. A lot of our research and development is on products that make things safer, faster and easier to operate with a push of a button, instead of the operator who had to previously put his hand on the machine and feel the vibrations.’

Maxcess’ Rotometrics brand focuses on die-cutting, anvils, print cylinders and flexible dies. Devin McCart, global project manager at Maxcess/Rotometrics, noted that flexible dies have become more popular because they cost less than solid dies.  

Wilson Manufacturing featured a wide range of products, including dies, print cylinders, anvils and pressure gauges. The company has seen growing interest in dies with more complex shapes, as well as in new materials that are more difficult to cut.

Wink showcased its hard cylinders, flexible dies and its SmartGap adjustable anvil system. During the show, the company launched SmartShift, a module that shifts die-cut labels to prevent tearing in the event of a die strike.

Schobertechnologies demonstrated its RSM IML MX 410 for die-cutting and stacking in-mold labels. With a single spider, it operates at speeds of up to 60m/min and with a twin spider up to 100m/min.

‘We are constantly improving the machine in terms of speed,’ says Gerald Glaas, director of sales and marketing at Schobertechnologies. ‘It was the right moment to go longer and faster. It's now in the fourth generation of development, and we plan to introduce more automation in the future.’

The company also highlighted rotary die-cutting and perforating and punching modules for labels and packaging.

Kocher + Beck highlighted its range of flexible dies, magnetic and print cylinders, and its GapMaster EM adjustable anvil system. While Kocher + Beck’s GapMaster system has been on the market for decades, the updated version, released two years ago, is electronic and retrofittable.

‘It also takes a standard GapMaster, and it gives an even finer adjustment, which is critical for this industry with cutting down to thinner and thinner liners, as we’ve seen over the years,’ says David Morris, president and CEO at Kocher + Beck.
Kocher + Beck also featured its new KMS pressure gauge system, which integrates with an HMI, allowing easier pressure monitoring.

‘If the pressure rises as the tooling warms up during operation, the system will automatically adjust to keep it at the level the operator set,’ Morris adds.