"It's about where the operator spends their time, and depends on what is being cut, but it can double or treble productivity," said Zünd product manager Lars Bendixen. "And since it's no longer manual to change sheets, the time taken is consistent."

The semi-automatic option consists of extensions that are fitted at either end of the cutting bed to enable loading and unloading to take place concurrently with production.

At Viscom semi-automated production will be shown on the firm's G3 M-1600 machine, but it can be fitted to any G3 table, and is available as an upgrade to installed machines.

Bendixen said that the semi automatic option would be particularly appealing for larger sheet sizes such as 2x3m as the cost of full automation "becomes quite expensive".