Mex, Switzerland, 3 November 2026
For converters investing in increasingly sophisticated die-cutting equipment, the tooling used with that equipment is a vital consideration – it can have a significant impact on make-ready times, running speeds, consistency, waste and, ultimately, the productivity of the entire converting process.
Michigan Laser Cut understands this well and has built its reputation around precision tooling and the technical expertise required to help customers achieve reliable performance in production. Now, as equipment becomes faster and more automated, and Michigan Laser Cut continues to evolve its own processes and capabilities to keep pace, becoming a BOBST Certified Die Maker (CDM) was a natural next step.
The BOBST Certified Die-Maker Program is a development program that provides companies with the capabilities to produce complex tool sets faster while maintaining the precision and quality of their operations demand. During the program, companies are trained and certified to produce High-Performance Tooling using standardized processes, premium components, and BOBST application know-how. High-Performance Tooling enables equipment to run at optimal speeds while ensuring precision and durability.
For Steve Schroeder, President at Michigan Laser Cut, the program offered an opportunity to elevate the company’s offering for its customers. “We are excited about the opportunity this creates for our company and our customers,” he said. “Our collaboration with BOBST enables us to continue to improve and deliver the highest grade and best quality tools in our industry.”
A die may be manufactured away from the pressroom, but decisions made during its design and construction ultimately affect the operator running the machine. Rule configuration, ejection materials, stripping and blanking components and other seemingly small details can influence how quickly a job comes up to production and how consistently it performs throughout the run.
During the CDM process, Michigan Laser Cut worked with BOBST specialists to review tooling specifications, materials and manufacturing practices while gaining a deeper understanding of why specific standards are recommended for BOBST equipment.
Importantly, the process was not about replacing the experience Michigan Laser Cut already had. It provided another technical perspective and an opportunity to benchmark existing practices, validate what was working well and identify areas where greater standardization could improve performance.
That is particularly valuable in an industry where tooling requirements have traditionally varied considerably from one converter – or even one operator – to another. Individual preferences around materials and construction can accumulate over time, creating different specifications for different customers and applications.
A tool manufactured according to repeatable standards gives the press operator fewer variables to manage during makeready. Instead of compensating for differences from one tool to another, the operator can focus on bringing the job into production and getting the performance expected from the equipment.
The question is no longer simply whether a die cuts the carton correctly. It is whether the complete tool helps the machine perform optimally. Can the operator achieve an efficient makeready? Can the machine maintain speed? Are stripping and blanking consistent? Does the tool continue to perform reliably throughout its expected life?
Those are production questions rather than simply tooling questions and answering them requires a broader understanding of the entire converting process.
That is one of the areas where Michigan Laser Cut sees particular value in combining BOBST’s knowledge of machine performance with its own die-making expertise to deliver more effective tooling for customers. The result is an ongoing technical dialogue between the two companies, focused on continually improving performance.
Ultimately, Michigan Laser Cut measures the value of High-Performance Tooling where it matters most: on the customer’s production floor. Converters may never see all the decisions that go into designing and manufacturing a die, but they experience the results. They know how long makeready takes, how much adjustment is required, whether the machine reaches the desired running speed and whether the tool performs consistently throughout the job. Reducing variability in any of those areas can have an impact far beyond the cost of the tool itself.
A more predictable tool can reduce the amount of intervention required from the operator, reduce the need for troubleshooting, and contribute to a more repeatable process from job to job.
Certification also gives Michigan Laser Cut another level of technical support when customers need it, allowing the company to work with BOBST to identify whether customer production issues stem from the machine, tooling, substrate or another process variable. For the customer, that means there is a broader network of knowledge behind the tool, supporting its performance.
For Michigan Laser Cut, becoming a BOBST Certified Die Maker is ultimately part of a larger philosophy of continuous improvement.
Equipment will continue to advance, automation will increase and converters will continue looking for ways to create a competitive advantage. As converters continue investing in faster, more automated technology, collaboration between the machine manufacturer and die maker will become even more important – and it’s a collaboration that can help customers achieve better, more consistent performance now and in the future.
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About BOBST
\u200bWe are one of the world’s leading suppliers of substrate processing, printing and converting equipment and services for the label, flexible packaging, folding carton and corrugated board industries. Our vision is to shape the future of the packaging world based on four pillars: connectivity, digitalization, automation and sustainability.
\u200bFounded in 1890 by Joseph Bobst in Lausanne, Switzerland, BOBST has a presence in more than 50 countries, runs 21 production facilities in 12 countries and employs more than 6 300 people around the world. The firm recorded a consolidated turnover of CHF 1.622 billion for the year ended December 31, 2025.
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