MultiCam, Inc. is a U.S. manufacturer and distributor of Computer Numerical Control (CNC) cutting machines and digital finishing processes. Founded in 1989, MultiCam supplies innovative CNC cutting solutions for a multitude of industries and applications – ranging from sign making to digital finishing, aerospace to automotive, sheet-metal to plate-steel processing, hardwoods to cabinet making, thermoform trimming to plastics fabrication.
In August 2021, Kongsberg Precision Cutting Systems (Kongsberg PCS) acquired MultiCam, including its operations in the U.S. and sales offices in Canada and Germany. This expanded Kongsberg PCS’ market reach and customer base across North America and Europe, creating the world’s first diversified provider of digital finishing and CNC cutting machines.
Interview with Chris Rogers, International Sales Manager at MultiCam.
Easy Engineering: What’s the news about new products?
Chris Rogers: Well, in 2022 we were excited to demonstrate our market-leading machines at this year’s PRINTING United Expo in Las Vegas, NV. We proudly offered a Super Booth experience at the show, with two adjacent booths from which we demonstrated both our market leading range of Kongsberg digital finishing tables and our MultiCam CNC machines.
As well as our MultiCam Apex 3R CNC router and Apex 1R, we used PRINTING United to showcase the latest innovation in the range, the Celero 4 Digital Cutting System. The Celero 4 flatbed cutter and router is uniquely designed for graphics, signage, display, and packaging applications. The wide format capabilities offer new applications to businesses, with the Celero able to cut up to one 3m roll or two 1.3m rolls side by side.
E.E: What are the ranges of products?
C.R: We have solutions to handle any job and material, from CNC routers and digital finishing, through to plasma, waterjet and laser cutting. In November, our team is at FABTECH, North America’s largest metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing event to showcase the range.
There, we are displaying the Apex 3R CNC router, and we’ll demonstrate how businesses benefit from a number of features standard with the machine that they might normally only get when buying much more expensive routers. It features a heavy, all-steel tube frame that ensures durability and makes it more rigid, which reduces vibration and improves routing quality. The Apex 3R includes the EZ Control operator interface so users can start routing right away and have minimal interruption in work processes, while a three-axis motion control system gives tight control over routing quality for precision and quality cutting.
The Apex 3R will be kitted out with the MultiCam High Speed Kinetic Blower and iVision Dust Collection system, to highlight the efficiency and operational gains that businesses can look forward to enjoying.
We’ll also be running our 3000 Series CNC Plasma table, with its sturdy all-steel plate frame that easily supports any standard or high-definition plasma unit. The rigid frame also ensures operators experience almost no vibration when cutting, for improved accuracy, while the high-speed contouring system means corners do not take excessive and costly amounts of time to cut to precision. The team will also highlight how the integrated material database in the 3000 Series saves valuable time by automatically adjusting and setting parameters like feed-rate, pierce delay, pierce height and more to match the selected material. What’s more, the downdraft table even takes care of all dust and debris so operators have a clear working space and can do the best job possible.
The 3000 Series will be complemented by the new Hypertherm XPR170, which expands plasma capabilities and opportunities and delivers next generation X-Definition™ processes from very thin up to mid-range thicknesses. With unmatched X-Definition™ cut quality on mild steel, stainless steel and aluminum, XPR170 increases cut speed, dramatically improves productivity and slashes operating costs. We’ll demonstrate how our new easy-to-use features and engineered system optimization make XPR easier to run with minimal operator intervention, while also ensuring optimal performance and unmatched reliability.
The MultiCam display is completed by the 1000 Series CNC WaterJet, the perfect platform for accurate and quality cuts for heat-sensitive processes. Cutting with a Waterjet is beneficial as it does not create any heat-affected-zones which could potentially lead to warped material. Our EZ Control G-Code and Coreo software ensures a simple but effective workflow for novice and experienced operators alike, while the intuitive CAD/CAM software enables businesses to draw, program, and cut within the same program.
The demos will highlight the power, simplicity and accuracy of cutting and routing a range of metals and other materials including acrylic, aluminum, sign foam/precision board, canvas and PVC.
E.E: At what stage is the market where you are currently active?
C.R: MultiCam has extraordinary market reach with its range of CNC routers, laser, plasma, waterjet and knife cutting machines. Kongsberg PCS’ acquisition of MultiCam enabled us to come together to drive best-in-class cutting and finishing processes, and we are looking to deliver a tremendous advantage for our global customer base.
At Kongsberg PCS, we are excited to develop and expand the product portfolio and to create new opportunities to grow our tooling and consumables offering. In addition to strengthening our hardware offering, we are also planning routes into new markets, in areas we know are currently not catered for and will benefit from our market-leading solutions.
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
C.R: The last couple of years has certainly presented a challenging time for sign and display businesses, with a global pandemic wreaking havoc on lives around the globe, forcing entire economies into recession and having a devastating impact on the industry. As the world returns to a semblance of normality in the wake of the pandemic, there is a new set of challenges on the horizon – from global logistics issues to an uncertain geo-political situation and worldwide economic volatility.
While the issue of sustainability fell away from the agenda at the height of the pandemic – with manufacture and supply of goods taking precedent to consumers’ usual habits and ideals – it is now firmly back on the agenda. But with businesses needing to be creative to achieve success, where does sustainability actually fit, in the context of the sign and display sector? That’s why earlier this year, we consulted with board suppliers, display designers and manufacturing companies to identify key considerations for the future of display design and manufacture.
Finding The Balance Between Creativity And Sustainability – Key considerations for the future of display design and manufacture features the informed opinions of key industry players, including Einar Ek, Director of Business Development with Re-board® Technology and Maximilian Hansen, CEO of Nordwerk Design.
E.E: What are the most innovative products marketed?
C.R: We want to empower our customers, inspire creativity and drive innovation with best-in-class digital cutting solutions worldwide. From the market leading products and services, we offer, to the long-term trusted relationships we build, we are driven by our customers’ success and committed to their future growth.
By fusing technology and creativity, we enable our customers to produce the highest quality products faster, safer, and more efficiently, maximizing their potential for creativity, sustainability and profitability.
E.E: What estimations do you have for the rest of 2022?
C.R: This has already been an exceptional year for Kongsberg PCS and MultiCam Inc. As to what happens in the remainder of the year, and looking to 2023, just watch this space.