William Smith has responded to rising demand for its signage output by purchasing a Zünd S3 digital cutter for its new facility, its second S3 and the fourth Zünd machine in simultaneous operation
William Smith Group 1832 (William Smith) has invested in a Zünd S3 digital cutting machine, its fourth Zünd cutter in total and its second S3 model.
The Zünd S3 is a modular, high-speed digital flatbed cutter designed for automated production, featuring a space-saving, ergonomic layout available in six different bed sizes across two primary length classes.
The cutter processes substrates up to 25mm thick including vinyl, reflective films, textiles, and corrugated board, supporting two simultaneous tool modules including oscillating knives, v-cutters, and creasing tools.
The new kit addition, which follows a distinct period of business growth at William Smith, keeps production capacity aligned with rising demand across its signage operation including for traffic signs, chevron kits, and other road safety products where high precision is needed.
The S3 will operate from William Smith’s new production facility, which the company officially relocated to in May. The facility was purpose-designed to allow space for additional machinery, with the entire relocation completed in just four days.
The company decided on a second S3 model after noting immediate capacity gains when installing the first machine in December 2024.
Speaking about the impact of the first S3, Rob Siswick, production and warehouse manager at William Smith, says: "The improvements in capacity we saw went through the roof. When it came to upgrading from our existing Zünd KN models, the process pointed us straight to another S3.”
The vacuum hold-down system of the S3 keeps materials flat throughout the cut, while automated tool initialisation ensures each job starts at the correct cutting depth from the first pass.
Modular tooling means William Smith can switch between substrate types without lengthy reconfiguration, which can streamline production workflows when handling a wide mix of signage applications.
The relationship between William Smith and Zünd stretches back 20 years, with this investment bringing William Smith's total fleet to four Zünd machines.
Lindsay Hutchinson, head of marketing at William Smith adds: "Our Zünd machines do a lot of heavy lifting for us. As the business has grown, the demand on the cutting side has grown with it, and this fourth machine means we can take on more work without any drop in the quality our customers expect."
William Smith is hosting an ‘Arlon Elite Days’ event at its Barnard Castle facility on July 15th and 16th, with certified Arlon vehicle wrap and commercial signage installers offering live demonstrations.
The event invites the wider sign and graphics trade for two days of practical product sessions and business development content. Day one is reserved for members of the Arlon Elite Installer Network, while day two is for non-certified installers, existing Arlon customers, and new prospects.
The company has also released a free virtual training session for construction and fit-out professionals, designed to make commercial interior films clearer and more accessible.
The one-hour online course, titled ‘Interior Film in Commercial Taster’, forms part of the company’s WS Training Academy. Led by John Raine, training and application manager at William Smith, the session introduces how architectural films are being specified across refurbishment, upgrade, and sustainable interior projects.
Further details and booking information for both events can be found on the William Smith Eventbrite page.
