What Is a Slitting Machine?

Slitting machines, also referred to as slitter rewinders, are an integral part of the converting industry, specifically designed to cut large rolls of material into narrower rolls that can then be used in various applications. In this article, we will examine what a slitting machine is, explain how slitting machinery functions, and take a closer look at the various slitting machines available in today’s US market.

What is a slitting machine?

A slitting machine, also known as a slitter rewinder or simply a slitter, is a key piece of machinery used for cutting and processing materials. The primary function of a slitting machine is to cut large master rolls into smaller rolls that can then be used in other production processes or by end-users.

Every slitting machine consists of three core components: 1. Unwind system – Feeds the large roll of material into the machine for processing. 2. Slitting mechanism – Uses cutting blades to slice the material into specific widths. 3. Rewind system – Rolls the freshly slit material onto narrower rolls for storage or further use.

Slitting machinery plays a crucial role in many industries, and you likely encounter its products daily. A perfect example is retail store receipts, which start out as large rolls of paper before being processed in a slitting machine, cut down to size, and rewound into smaller rolls, ready to be used in receipt printers at checkout counters.

Types of slitting machine

Slitting machines come in various designs, each intended for different materials, budgets, and applications. Below, we have broken down the two primary categories of slitting machines—wide-web and narrow-web slitting machines—and highlighted their key features and capabilities.

Wide-web slitting machines

Diamond Wide-Web Duplex Slitter Rewinder

A high-quality yet budget-friendly slitting machine, making it ideal for projects operating on fixed budgets. This machine is capable of processing most materials efficiently.

Sapphire S2 Duplex Slitter Rewinder

This slitting machine is well-known for its high speed and versatility, featuring 600mm, 800mm, and 1000mm rewind diameter configurations, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of materials.

Solitaire Wide-Web Duplex Slitter Rewinder

Built to handle diverse materials, this machine is particularly well-suited for narrow-web slitting and rewinding applications across multiple industries.

Onyx Wide-Web Duplex Slitter Rewinder

A cost-effective and user-friendly slitter that is ideal for flexible packaging applications, making it a great choice for start-ups and smaller businesses.

Sapphire S2T Wide-Web Duplex Turret Slitter Rewinder

A premium, high-performance machine designed to maximize productivity, featuring automatic turreting technology that significantly reduces downtime, allowing for cycle times as low as 15 seconds.

Diamond T Wide-Web Duplex Turret Slitter Rewinder

A compact yet highly efficient slitting machine using turreting rewind technology, providing a cost-effective alternative to the Diamond Duplex Slitter Rewinder.

Jade Secondary Film Slitter Rewinder

Developed specifically for film manufacturers, this machine can handle materials such as BOPP, CPP, BOPET, PA, and metallized or coated films, offering high-speed processing.

Jade Primary Film Slitter Rewinder

Designed for high-speed, high-precision winding, this slitting machine is ideal for processing and rewinding plastic films up to 343 inches wide.

Jade Wide Web Labelstock/Paper Slitter Rewinder

A versatile machine in the Jade series, offering center-surface winding capabilities with options for individual rewind stations, differential rewind shafts, or airshaft configurations.

Emerald Wide-Web Rewinding / Doctoring Machine (Salvage Rewinder)

Designed with material waste reduction in mind, this salvage rewinder corrects poorly wound rolls, ensuring that they are transformed into high-quality, usable finished products.

Narrow-web slitting machines

Opal Standard Narrow-Web Label Inspection Slitter Rewinder

A versatile, easy-to-set-up slitting machine that is perfectly suited for narrow-web material processing across different industries.

Opal EC Narrow-Web Label Inspection Slitter Rewinder

An entry-level slitter designed for cost-effective, high-precision label slitting and rewinding, featuring PLC control and AC brushless motors.

Opal ISR Narrow-Web Label Inspection Slitter Rewinder

A high-speed, modular slitting machine designed for efficient and high-quality label production, it is an excellent all-around narrow-web processing solution.

Opal Narrow-Web Label Inline and Offline Turret Rewinder

A fully automated slitting machine designed specifically for the self-adhesive label industry, ensuring continuous, uninterrupted operation for businesses requiring high-speed label production.

Opal Narrow-Web Label Converters & Converting Lines

A highly functional label converter used to produce blank labels and non-die-cut labels, offering advanced control features and processing flexibility for various applications.

If you are interested in any of the slitting machines discussed in this article and would like to know more, please contact our specialists today at ASHE Converting Equipment. Our team is made up of industry experts when it comes to slitting machinery, so if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.