How Afinia Digital Label Finishers Work
Afinia and advanced laser-based finishing systems make it possible to cut, laminate, and rewind professional-grade labels directly in-house. Whether you produce short custom runs or high-volume commercial labels, these systems eliminate outsourcing delays, reduce costs, and give you complete control over your label production workflow.
How Digital Label Finishers Work
Digital label finishers transform a continuous printed roll into fully finished, cut-to-shape labels. The process typically includes laminating, cutting, slitting, waste removal, and rewinding — creating press-ready labels almost instantly.
- Lamination – Gloss, matte, or protective film
- Cutting – Digital contour cutting, die-free cutting, or rotary precision
- Slitting – Narrowing rolls to the required width
- Rewinding – Finished rolls for automatic label applicators or manual use
- Waste Removal – Matrix stripping and cleanup
Step 1: Choose Your Afinia Label Printer
Select the printer that best suits your production volume and color requirements:
- Afinia Color Label Printers — including the L502, L701, L801/L801+, L901/L901+, and X350 models.
Step 2: Choose Your Label Finisher
Option 1: Digital Plotter-Knife Finishers
Plotter-style digital finishers use a computer-controlled blade to cut any shape on demand. Perfect for small batches, seasonal labels, frequent SKU changes, and prototype work.
- No steel dies required
- Maximum shape flexibility for custom labels
- Ideal for short runs and variable SKUs
- Quick file-based setup
Option 2: Rotary Die-Cut Digital Finishers
Rotary digital finishers use magnetic cylinders and digital dies to deliver faster production for repeat jobs and consistent label shapes.
- High-speed finishing for continuous production
- Accurate, repeatable cuts
- Reduced downtime for standard label sizes
- Excellent for long-run commercial jobs
Option 3: Taurus Laser Cutting & Laminating System — Top-Tier Finishing
The Taurus Laser Cutting & Laminating Machine introduces a new era of fully digital finishing. Unlike plotter or rotary systems, Taurus uses advanced laser technology to cut labels at extremely high speed, with no dies required and no mechanical wear.
Versatile, High-Speed Laser Cutting
Taurus merges unmatched cutting speed with full digital flexibility. By reading your artwork file, it can instantly vary the size, shape, and depth of cuts — all at production-level throughput.
- Fully Digital Workflow: No dies or tools required
- Advanced Laser Technology: 3-axis Galvo system and sealed CO₂ laser source
- Integrated Finishing: Laser cutting, laminating, waste removal, rewinding
- Automatic Web Guidance: Ensures perfect alignment and tension control
- High-Speed Production: Maintains output far faster than blade-based systems
Precision and Design Flexibility
Taurus can vary laser power across individual labels — allowing micro-cuts, perforations, deep cuts, kiss-cuts, and complex geometry not achievable with traditional tooling.
Compact and Versatile
Designed for efficiency, Taurus supports web widths up to 350 mm and is compatible with paper, film, and specialty materials used in retail, food, cosmetics, chemical, and industrial labeling.
Eco-Friendly and Cost-Efficient
Eliminating die plates reduces production waste and ongoing tooling expenses while enabling ultra-fast job changes from a simple PDF file.
Advanced Software
Taurus uses cutting software compatible with Adobe PDF, enabling precise control over speed, patterns, and laser output. QR code scanning can trigger automatic job changes on the fly.
Why Use a Digital Label Finisher?
- Control your entire label production workflow
- Eliminate outsourcing delays and die costs
- Produce labels on demand with zero lead times
- Support seasonal, promotional, and small-batch needs
- Improve consistency and turnaround time
- Scale from short runs to full production
Bundle Everything With Financing
Jet City Label offers leasing and financing options that let you bundle:
- Label printer
- Digital finisher (plotter, rotary, or laser)
- Inks
- Label media
- Service and extended support plans
All into one affordable monthly payment.
Finance with First Citizens Bank
FAQ: Digital and Laser Label Finishers
What’s the main difference between plotter-knife, rotary, and laser finishers?
Plotter-knife systems are best for flexibility and short runs. Rotary systems are ideal for high-volume runs with consistent sizes. Laser finishing like Taurus provides the fastest speed and highest precision without needing dies.
Does Taurus replace traditional rotary or plotter finishers?
For many mid- to high-volume workflows, yes. Taurus eliminates dies entirely and dramatically reduces setup time.
Can laser finishing handle film, polypropylene, and synthetic materials?
Yes. Taurus is engineered for paper, PET, PP, vinyl, and specialty films.
Is laser finishing safe for inkjet, pigment, or dye-based labels?
Yes. Taurus uses controlled CO₂ laser energy that cuts the substrate without damaging print surfaces.
Can I finance the printer and finisher together?
Yes. Jet City Label can bundle your printer, finisher, supplies, and service plans into one financed package.
Is die-cutting obsolete?
Not entirely, but laser finishing drastically reduces the need for traditional magnetic dies, especially for variable designs.
Ready to Build a Modern In-House Finishing Workflow?
Whether you choose a plotter-based finisher, rotary system, or advanced Taurus laser technology, Jet City Label has the equipment and expertise to help you bring label production completely in-house.
Explore Digital & Laser Label Finishers
Finance with First Citizens Bank
FAQ: Afinia Digital Label Finishing Systems
What’s the difference between plotter-knife and rotary finishers?
Plotter-knife finishers offer maximum shape flexibility and are great for small runs and many SKUs. Rotary finishers are faster and better for large batches with consistent label sizes.
Do these finishers work with any label printer?
They work best with Afinia printers, but can also accept output from other inkjet roll printers if media and roll specifications match.
Can these finishers laminate labels?
Yes — many Afinia finishers support gloss, matte, or protective laminates for improved durability.
Is a digital finisher worth it for small batches?
Yes. Eliminating the need for physical dies dramatically reduces cost per label for short runs and prototypes.
Can I finance both the printer and the finisher together?
Yes. Jet City Label can bundle your printer, finisher, label stock, ink, and service plans into a single financed monthly payment.
Ready to Build Your Own In-House Label Factory?
With an Afinia printer and digital finisher from Jet City Label, you gain full control over your label production—no outsourcing, no delays, no die costs.