In just 13 months, AlphaGraphics Seattle added more than $275,000 in new business, and they didn't have to overhaul their entire operation to do it. The machine that made the difference? A digital diecutter that let them say yes to jobs that they used to have to turn away — delivering faster, with higher margins and no interruption to workflow.
The jobs were there, but they couldn't say yes
Like many print shops, AlphaGraphics Seattle was walking away from revenue. Traditional die cutting wasn't practical for short runs or tight deadlines. The fixed costs, time and setup meant turning down small jobs because they were impractical.
"We would turn away work mostly because we couldn't meet the delivery window, or our price was too high," Chuck explained. "...when you consider the fixed cost of buying the die, setting up a letterpress and actually running it."
And while that process works for long runs with static output, it doesn't translate well to the digital print world where customers expect custom work done quickly.
Built for the fast-turn, short-run jobs customers were asking for
At the Printing United show in Atlanta, Chuck was introduced to Skandacor’s FINISHpro 2029 AF Max. What caught his attention was how well it fit into the type of work that they were already seeing.
"What attracted me the most was the auto-feed and auto-dispose and the range of cutting, trimming, drilling, routing, and scoring features all available on the 20x29-inch sheet size that we needed."
After installation, the benefits really began to show. Setup was quick and the interface was intuitive.
"The die cutter was delivered and installed very quickly. No problems. [It] certainly was easy for us to adopt." Chuck said. "The programming software was easy to understand, and the setup of the device itself was also very intuitive."
That meant no production delays, and no lost customers. Just results, from day one, without interrupting their workflow.
A six-figure return in under 14 months
AlphaGraphics Seattle wasn't running the machine 8 hours a day. They didn't have to. Even with only 30 orders a month, the die cutter delivered a solid, consistent ROI.
"It's enabled us to add $10,000 to $30,000 a month in additional revenue that we wouldn't have had otherwise," said Chuck. "Because of the ability to do it within the same day or the next day, as opposed to a week or more."
The speed alone allowed them to produce more jobs in the same time, and capture revenue that they otherwise couldn't.
When speed becomes your competitive edge
The real advantage wasn't just what the machine could do — it was the edge it gave them.
"Our biggest win has been meeting, if not exceeding our expectations of being able to say yes to more opportunities," Chuck said.
In a competitive market, that speed turned into real differentiation.
"Adding a Skandacor digital die cutter is going to create an ability for you to say yes to business that many of your competitors will not be able to respond positively to." he said. "Which is enabling you to be more valuable to your customers."
The results speak for themselves
Here’s what changed once the FINISHpro 2029 AF Max was on the floor:
- $275,000 in new revenue within the first 13 months
- Job turnaround times cut from weeks to same-day or next-day
- High-margin, short-run jobs produced profitably
- More opportunities won, fewer turned away
You don't need full-time volume to drive serious growth. Just the right tool, and the right partner.
Request your FINISHpro die cutter quote today