Founded in 2011 by Andrew McCabe, Daftbug Branding Co. operates with one mission: to be ‘the event industry sidekick’. Outsourcing board media kept them from complete control, but that changed with the arrival of the Summa F1612 flatbed cutter.
This powerful all-in-one solution brought production in-house, expanded their capabilities, and gave them the control they needed to fully deliver on their promise. Here’s how one machine helped them level up.
With just five staff members and a fully in-house production model, Daftbug delivers fast, high-quality branding solutions for events of all scales.
Daftbug’s early growth was limited by outsourcing. While they handled vinyl cutting internally, all routing work had to be outsourced, an unreliable and time-consuming bottleneck. Jobs were delayed, quality varied, and their brand’s reputation was at stake.
That changed the day they saw the Summa F1612 flatbed cutter in action. They realised this all-in-one machine could give them the control they desperately needed. With tools for cutting everything from vinyl to Foamex and a second tangential module, the F1612 became the missing piece in their in-house puzzle.
Once installed, the F1612 transformed Daftbug’s workflow. ‘It runs all day, every day,’ said McCabe. No more outsourcing meant shorter lead times and tighter quality control. With greater precision and automated cutting, even hand-cut corrugated boards became a thing of the past.’
Team productivity soared as well. Despite taking on bigger projects, there was no need to expand the team. In fact, they ‘threw out all our rulers’ thanks to the F1612’s consistency and accuracy.
The toolset opened new business avenues. Daftbug began offering eco-friendly Reboard products, custom packaging, and creased signage. This resonated with their environmentally conscious clients, particularly large global brands that focus on sustainability.
The addition of an Epson flatbed printer with Onyx RIP software created a seamless printing and cutting workflow. And thanks to their GoProduce Pro Pack software, barcode integration production was streamlined, enabling Daftbug to scale without sacrificing quality or agility.
Despite its advanced features, the F1612 is easy to learn. ‘The user interface is intuitive, the buttons are self-explanatory, and the material pictures come in handy,’ said McCabe.
Staff picked it up quickly, making the transition smooth and efficient. The GoProduce Pro Pack software further enhanced productivity, particularly with its barcode functionality, reverse cutting, and advanced file handling.
The newly added corrugated tool consolidated the functionality of three separate tools – the POT, double-edge cutout tool, and heavy-duty cutout tool – into one, saving even more time.Projects that would have once been impossible – like a Coca-Cola Christmas event – are now everyday work. They’ve also produced signage for nearly every major Irish festival.
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