This document provides an overview of different slitting technologies used to cut materials into strips, including razor slitting, crush/score slitting, and shear slitting. It compares the key factors to consider for each technology and how to match the appropriate slitting method to the material properties. The document emphasizes that selecting the right slitting method for the specific material and desired cut is most important. It also discusses technology value chains for slitting suppliers and opportunities for innovation.

1. Case Study: Understanding
Human Factors and Materials
Matching in selection of Slitters
Image obtained from
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=587&tbm=isch&tbnid=KHFSNVzpOAAfrM:
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ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:10,s:0,i:110&tx=89&ty
=98
Stefan Choo
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2. Presentation Outline
 Definition of Slitting
 Slitting Technologies: A comparison between
Razor, Crush/Score and Shear Slitting
 Selecting the right methods of cut for the right material
and the right cut.
 Technology Value Chain & Identification of Core
Technology Differentiators
 Innovation approach
 Conclusion
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3. Slitting technologies
Terms and Definitions
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4. Definition of Slitting
(From Oxford Dictionary Online)
(From Colins Dictionary Online)
noun
noun
 a long, narrow cut or opening: make a slit •
in the stem under a bud arrow slits
•
a long narrow cut
a long narrow opening
verb (slits, slitting, slit)
 [with object] make a long, narrow cut in:
give me the truth or I will slit your throat
[with object and complement]:he slit
open the envelope
 cut (something) into strips: a wide
recording head magnetizes the tape
before it is slit to domestic size
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verb
•
Word forms: slits, slitting, slit
•
tr to make a straight long incision
in; split open
•
to cut into strips lengthwise
•
to sever
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5. Stefan Choo
‹#›

6. Razor Slitting: An Overview
 4 Key factors to
consider
1. Safety
2. Principles of
separation
3. Installation
Parameters
4. Blade
Parameters
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7. Score Slitting: An Overview
 5 Key factors to consider
1. The web
2. Nip force
3. Blade profile
4. Metallurgy
5. Mounting Geometry
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8. Score Slitting: Matching blade to
materials
 Do suppliers have range
of blades for different
applications?
 Smaller Radius
Less energy required
Rapid tip fracture &
Anvil Roll Grooving
Larger tips radii
Higher force & energy
consumption Tools
dull/ break easily
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9. Profiles of materials cut using
score slitting
A.
Clay-coated paperboard
(0.45mm). Ridge formation
due to blade displacement.
B.
Polyethylene (0.1mm). Flaky
edges. Edge extrusion by
blade.
C.
Polypropylene (0.07mm). No
material defects, but slitter
dust leftover1.
D.
Paper towel. Effectively and
cleanly crushed.
E.
Nonwoven towel. Flakes of
resin deposited during
scoring.
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Images obtained from Tidland (2003)
Image Obtained from Schaber, R (1993)
e
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10. Shear Slitting: An Overview
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11. Match Material Properties to
Blade Profiles & Parameters:
Shear Slitting
t
σUTS
ρ
μ
δ
k
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σyc
Source: Slitting Techniques (2002)
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12. Key Criterion- Slitting Selection
1. Identify most important characteristics of each slitting
method.
2. Identify characteristics of materials to be slit.
3. Match materials to best method.
4. Value Added Services to Buyer. (Stuarda)
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13. Cross Comparison of Slitting
Technologies
Blade Life
Longest Blade Life (~1015X Shear)
Shortest Blade Life
Intermediate Blade Life
(15X > Crush)
Razor Slitting
**Generally Best for
Advantages
Weaknesses
Prescribed thickness
Speed
Crush/ Score Slitting
Shear Slitting
• Thin film products
• Adhesives
• Any flexi-web material
• - Simplest
- Least Expensive
• - Works well for thin edge
trim
- Ease of blade cleaning
• - Uneven thickness (Flow
distortion)
- Permanent distortion
(Entrapped air)
- Low tolerance
• ≤25 microns
• <1000ft/min
• - Dusty, largest amount of
dust
- Poorest Edge Quality
- Not for stiff products or
tensile plastic films
• >25 microns
• Unstated. Slow.
• - Customizable
- Fast
- Min amount of slitting
dust
• Complex
-Tacit knowledge of
operators
• >25 microns
• >1000ft/min
Cost
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Source: Wolf, M (2005), Rowe, R(2001), Bentley DJ (2005)

14. Start
Materials Based
Selection of Slitting Process
Is material thin
≤25μm
Material needs to
stretch significantly Yes
in direction of
applied force before
breaking?
Yes
No
Material pulls apart
easily without
brittle breaking.
No/ Variable
Thickness
No
Does material soften Yes
(Tg) at machining
temperature?
No
Knowledge &
competency of
manpower in
Machine Setup and
Customization
No
Ease of Blade
Penetration into
material?
No
Does material
deposit on/ stick to
blade easily?
Yes
No
No
Yes
Is material
sufficiently
flexible?
Yes
No
Safety procedures &
handling
Yes
Good interlayer bond
strength
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Material recoverable
from compression?
Ok
Yes
Speed/
Quality
Critical?
Assumption:
- Uniform
material
across single
layer.
Exclusions:
- Fibers
- Aligned
composite
materials
Appropriate Roll
Handling &
Tension Control
No
Shear Slitting
Crush/ Score
Slitting
Yes
Razor Slitting
Includes exception:
woven materials
No
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Speed Critical?
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15. Technology Value ChainSlitting Suppliers
Technology
Post Processing
Machine
Raw Materials
Knife holder
Tension Control
Engineering
Value Added
Services
Technical
Know-How
Material-Blade
Selection
Equipment and
Supply Vendors
Machine
Parameters
Manpower
- Skilled Labor
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Packaging
3M
- Us
Freight
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16. Impacts on Knife holder on
Slitting V.C.
Rigidity, Compliance and Vibration
Can’t Angle
Adj/
Safety- Blade
Changing and
Adjustment
Safety
Load Regulation
Productivity
(Manpower) &
Quality (Output)
Engage/DisSequencing
Setup and
Repositionability
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Source: Tidland (2002)
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17. What to look out for during
supplier visit:
Safety-control mechanisms
Are they1. Present?
2. Clearly visible
3. Adhered to?
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18. Survey Results- What
influences Suppliers to
purchase
56%
48%
38%
Upgradability of Machines
Differential winding- Aligns rolls of
different thicknesses with precision
(Differential Winding)
# Able to slit in register with applied
coatings
36%
Controls for specific features
31%
Diagnostic and
Troubleshooting
Image copied from “Slitting Survey: Results Let Us Hear Reader’s Voices
19%
**Automation
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-Budget shrinking for Suppliers  Frugal
Innovations that improve converter output
will be useful.
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19. Wherein lies the margin for
supplier innovation?
To retrofit machine &
upgrade Knifeholder?
To buy a new machine
to upgrade from score
to razor slitting/ shear
slitting?
New: USD$1,400
Used: USD $795
Source: BTS industries website
Source:
http://stores.margot.com/Manufacturing_Process_Equipme
nt/Web_Handling_and_Process_Equipment/Knives_and_K
nife_Holders/Slitter_Knife_Holders/Used_Tidland_Class_II
_Shear_Knife_Holder_5_RH_p157.html
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20. Conclusion:
What matters most
Use the right
method of cut
for the right
material and
right cut!
Tidland Corp
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21. Q&A/ Objections?
 “It’s much cheaper, easier and saves time to
choose a slitter who has machines that run at fast
speeds and promise to slit across most materials.”
 “We outsourced to them since it’s not our core
capability, they should serve us accordingly. I don’t
see any point in investing more time and resources
to study their processes”
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22. Outsourcing: Why outsource?
A creative conundrum
Slower time
to market,
↓ Costs
Lower costs
(but really so
in the long
term?)
Operate
Faster Time
To Market
Improving
Innovation Capability
Better
Products
Innovate
Present/
Past
• Cost
• Economy of Scale
• Lower Wages
• Redistribute resources
from non-core to
innovation activities
• Access to new, noncore Competencies
Capacity
• Loss of Knowledge
Architecture
• Loss of Process
Architecture
• Acquisition of Product
and Process
Architecture
• Development of
Knowledge Architecture
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Source: Bengstsson, L (2009)
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23. Glossary of terms
 Converting companies are companies that specialize in combining raw
materials such as polyesters, adhesives, silicones, tapes, foams, plastics, felts,
rubbers, liners and metals, as well as other materials, to create new products.
(Source: Wikipedia)
 Web speed: (inferred) Feed speed of the substrate material that is to be
processed. The web is usually a long thin flexible material passed over rollers.
 * Web handling is the art and science of getting a web through a machine with
maximum productivity and minimum waste.
 Differential core technologies:

Technology that allows for uneven cuts to be processed by the slitter
 Slit Edge: The edge of a coil or sheet after being fed through a highly tempered
knives located on the slitter head. The edge of slit coils has tighter tolerances
than normal mill run edges.
Nip: a pinching force between two surfaces. In manufacturing,
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24. Bibliography

Bentley Jr, D. J. (2005). Razor, Crush, And Shear Slitting Principles: Advantages And Disadvantages For Film And Foil Applications.
Paper, Film and Foil Converter, 79(5), 67. Retrieved from
http://libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/211371591?accountid=13876

Egeröd, J., & Nordling, E. (2010). Strategic Supplier Evaluation-Considering environmental aspects. Linköping.

Hamilton. (2005). Principles of Shear Slitting. Hamilton, OH. Retrieved from http://www.hamiltonknife.com/educational_materials.htm

Hawkins, W. E. (1999a). Slitting technology - part I: A look at razor slitting. Paper, Film and Foil Converter, 73(5), 28. Retrieved from
http://libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/211390590?accountid=13876

Hawkins, W. E. (1999b). Slitting technology--part II: Razor slitting continued. Paper, Film and Foil Converter, 73(6), 26. Retrieved from
http://libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/211407551?accountid=13876

Lowe, R. (2001). Slitting survey. Paper, Film and Foil Converter, 75(8), 45. Retrieved from
http://libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/211397925?accountid=13876

Schable, R. (1993). Slitting Solutions. Paper, Film and Foil Converter. Retrieved May 29, 2013, from
http://tidland.maxcessintl.com/slitting/slitting-materials-technical-articles

Schable, R. (2003). A guide to slitting. Converting Magazine. Retrieved from http://tidland.maxcessintl.com/slitting/selecting-slittingmethod-technical-articles
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25. Biblography

Shea, B., & Benson, G. (1999). Is your slitting system cutting into your profits? Paper, Film and Foil Converter, 73(6), 64. Retrieved
from http://libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/211376630?accountid=13876

Slitting Techniques, Choosing the best Method. (1998). Chicago, United States, Chicago.
Slitting Technology. (2002).The Plastic Film and Foil Web Handling Guide. CRC Press. doi:doi:10.1201/9781420031782.sec2

Spaulding, M. (2008). Outsourcing speeds “time to market”. Converting Magazine, 26(8), 50–n/a. Retrieved from
http://libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/200120945?accountid=13876

Stundza, T. B. T.-P. (2005). Buyers want more than what is being offered: service centers offer metal processing, on-time deliveries;
buyers want market research, customer analysis. Purchasing, 134(18), 32B1+. Retrieved from
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE|A138755671&v=2.1&u=nuslib&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w

Troubleshooting Webhandling Problems. (2002).The Plastic Film and Foil Web Handling Guide. CRC Press.
doi:doi:10.1201/9781420031782.sec3

Web Stability. (2002).The Plastic Film and Foil Web Handling Guide. CRC Press. doi:doi:10.1201/9781420031782.sec1

Wolf, M. (2005). Choosing the Right Equipment: A Hair-Slitting Ordeal. PackagePrinting, 52(2), 22–27. Retrieved from
http://libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/224560827?accountid=13876

Zelt, A. (2006). How to avoid slit-in coil slitting problems. TheFabricator.com. Retrieved May 29, 2013, from
http://www.thefabricator.com/article/coilprocessing/how-to-avoid-slit-in-coil-slitting-problems
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26. Additional Information
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27. Schematic overview of Slitting
Machines
Blade
oscillation
system for
razor
slitting
Shear
Knives
Razor Slitting
Blade
Shear Slitting
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Roll Setup for
Basic Razor Slitting
Schematic Setup for
Automated Shear Slitting
Sourced from Hawkins, WE (1999)
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28. Key Constraints of Machining
Methods
Razor
Slitting
Safety
Crush/
Score
Slitting
Shear
Slitting
Blade Wear
Blade Life
Difficult to customize various
slit widths for various products
Slit Edge Quality: Tension
Control
Slit Edge Quality
Precision of slit
configuration• 1. Operator skill
• 2. Knifeholder design
Blade Life
Slitting Speed
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Safety
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Source: Slitting Techniques, Solutions (2002)

29. Improvements to slitting
processes/ designs
“Having the right machine for the job is the biggest cost savings a converter
can have”-------- Megan Wolf, Package Printing (2005)
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30. How issues can be addressed by
slitters
Razor
Slitting
Crush/
Score
Slitting
Shear
Slitting
Lineal Die Ultrasonic
Slitting
Slitting
Blade Wear
Blade Life
Use premium
blades against
wear
Difficult to
customize various
slit widths for
various products
Slit Edge Quality
Precision of slit
configuration-
Better holder and
tool design such
that manual
changes are less
needed
• 1. Operator skill
• 2. Knifeholder design
Slitting Speed
Safety
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Source: Slitting Techniques, Solutions (2002)

31. Improvements to slitting
processes
Issues
Possible
solutions
Affects
Impact to
Company &
3M
Competitive
Advantage
Downsides
to Company/
3M
Downtime
due to
manual blade
changes
(number +
frequency)
Automatic
set-up to the
slitter bladed
carriers
Frequency of
tool change
↓ manual
labor &
production
downtime
Outpaces,
↓ competition
-Expensive
-Initial cost of
equipment
purchase is
passed on to
3M
Long setup
time for
specific
configuration
s
CAD
integration
Localization
of services to
the user
+
Differentiation
point
(Supplier has
more
bargaining
power)
Supplier
competes in
niched
marker,
Limits
choices to 3M
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Responsiven
ess to user
needs.
Design
automation & Configuration
integration
& Design
with
changes
manufacturin g outputs
Complementa
ry operations
↑ Range of
outputs to the
user
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32. Improvement to slitting
processes
Issues
Improvemen
ts
Affects
Impact to
Company &
3M
Competitive
Advantage
Downsides
to Company/
3M
Score slitters
fitted on old
machines
- Cheap to
supplier,
resistant to
change
Retrofit old
machines
using score
slitters with
shear slitters
Frequency
and tools of
production
↓ labor cost
↑ capacity of
service to
customer
↑setup costs.
Quick
Eliminates
change knife downtime
holder
cartridge
↓↓ or x
manual labor
↑↑Quality
↑↑Safety
↓Lead time &
TTM
Sequential air Prevents
valving
blade impact
and damage
↓
replacement
of blades
↑Quality
Clear &
Consistent
Shear Angle
↑ Yield
↓ Defects/
Damage
↑Quality
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Cut quality &
Productivity
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33. Quality of Slits
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34. Common problems with
Slitting & Proposed Solutions
Method of slitting
Shear
Slitting
Scoring
Scoring
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Excessive
Dusting
Tearing/
Dusting of
Non-woven
fabrics
Carbonless
paper
↑ Grind
Angle
Use
tougher
blade
material
↓ Blade
Overlap
↑Slitter
Overspeed
↓ Blade
Overlap
Correct
the
Blade
Mounting
Blade wear
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35. Common problems with
Slitting & Proposed Solutions
Method of slitting
Scoring
Excessive
Dusting
Shear
Shear/
Scoring
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Tearing/ Dusting
of Tissues
Laminates
↑ Grind
Angle
Use tougher
blade
material
↓ Blade
Overlap
↑Slitter
Overspeed
Tailor
specific
grind angles
↑Slitter
Overspeed
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36. Knife holder types and
capabilities
Additional Information can be
accessed at
http://tidland.maxcessintl.com/slittin
g/tidland-e-knifeholder
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