Running at full speed: PM-TM expands cutting capacity with a third Summa F Series flatbed cutter

When production runs 16 to 19 hours a day, reliability is no longer a nice-to-have. For Latvian printing company PM-TM, increasing demand and tighter lead times made cutting capacity a critical bottleneck. By adding a third Summa F Series flatbed cutter to its production floor, PM-TM secured the speed, precision, and operational stability needed to keep high-volume retail campaigns moving without interruption.

Founded in 2011, PM-TM has grown into a full-service production agency combining industrial display manufacturing with below-the-line (BTL) marketing execution. The company serves leading FMCG brands, such as Coca-Cola, Danone and IKEA, as well as major retailers and their suppliers across the Baltic region, supporting recurring in-store campaigns with POS and POP materials.

Operating with a team of 58 people, PM-TM specializes in handling high-volume, time-sensitive retail activations for clients such as international grocery chains and global FMCG brands. Most projects require fast production cycles, consistent quality, and the ability to scale quickly during campaign peaks.

The challenge: keeping up with a heavy production load

As PM-TM’s business continued to grow, cutting capacity became a limiting factor. Printing output increased, but post-processing needed to keep pace. With campaigns running back-to-back and production spread across two to three shifts, cutting tables were running close to nonstop.

“Our cutters are working 16 to 19 hours a day,” explains Aleksandrs Gurvičs, Chairman of the Board of PM-TM. “At a certain point, we started to feel a bottleneck. It began to affect our lead times, and that’s when we knew we needed additional capacity.”

The solution had to integrate smoothly into PM-TM’s existing workflow, require minimal operator retraining, and withstand sustained high-load production without excessive downtime.

The solution: a third Summa F Series flatbed cutter

PM-TM decided to invest in a third Summa F Series flatbed cutter with conveyor system, supplied and installed by Summa’s Lithuanian distributor Sesoma. Having already operated two F Series cutters for several years, the choice was straightforward.

“We were already familiar with the workflow and the software,” says Gurvičs. “Adding the same machine was the fastest way to boost production. You can plug it into the existing environment and start working from day one.”

Key features supporting PM-TM’s production demands include:

• Automatic Device Calibration and depth control sensors, ensuring consistent cut quality across long production runs

• GoProduce software, offering an intuitive interface with a low learning curve for operators

• Fast installation and setup, typically completed within one working day

• Suitable for cutting both roll materials and printed sheets used in advertising and retail applications

The machine integrates seamlessly alongside PM-TM’s CNC routing systems, allowing the F Series to handle advertising materials efficiently while heavier substrates are routed elsewhere.

The impact: more capacity, less downtime

With three Summa F Series cutters in operation, PM-TM has eliminated its cutting bottleneck and stabilized lead times, even under peak workloads.

“These machines work like tanks,” Gurvičs notes. “We use them in a very heavy production environment, probably more than originally intended, and they just keep running.”

Additional benefits include:

• Low consumable usage: consumables last long despite heavy use, with only the conveyor belt requiring periodic replacement

• Minimal unplanned downtime, despite continuous multi-shift operation

• Consistent cutting accuracy, even during long production cycles

• Operator-friendly workflow, reducing dependency on specialized training

Support from Sesoma has also played a decisive role. “Service is essential,” Gurvičs emphasizes. “You don’t see that when you visit trade shows, but it’s also the reason why we keep buying Summa machines. Sesoma’s service is reliable, and that matters.”

Looking forward

PM-TM is currently considering further expansions of its production floor. Cutting capacity will continue to evolve alongside printing investments, ensuring post-processing never becomes a constraint on growth.

Thanks to its experience with the Summa F Series, PM-TM knows that scaling cutting capacity is a predictable and logical step. Adding an extra flatbed cutter fits naturally into the existing workflow, making expansion straightforward as volumes continue to grow.

“When production volumes grow, you have to think beyond printing,” Gurvičs concludes. “If you can’t cut on time, everything slows down. For us, the Summa F Series has proven to be a reliable foundation for scaling our operation.”