The Walk · A Guillotine That Runs Without an Operator? · Jacob Hummel · Komori & Yaskawa · FLOW 2026

What if a guillotine could receive a stack of printed sheets, calculate the cutting sequence, position the paper, perform every cut, and deliver the finished stacks — without an operator?

At FLOW 2026 in Bad Hersfeld, INKISH’s Morten Reitoft meets Jacob Hummel, Chief Commercial Officer of Komori Europe, for a demonstration of a fully automated guillotine solution developed through a collaboration between Komori and Japanese robotics specialist Yaskawa.

While printing presses have become increasingly faster and more automated, cutting remains one of the most labor-intensive processes in many printing companies. Heavy paper stacks, repetitive handling, manual positioning, and constant operator involvement can create significant bottlenecks between printing and finishing.

Komori and Yaskawa are addressing this challenge by combining a conventional industrial guillotine with two powerful robotic arms and an intelligent automation system.

Using production information originating from the imposition workflow, the system can determine cutting sequences, move and position paper stacks, perform consecutive cuts, and manage the resulting stacks. And because the robotic automation is designed as a separate system, it can potentially be integrated with compatible guillotines from different manufacturers.

But the real opportunity goes beyond replacing manual labor.

Jacob explains how predictable throughput, continuous operation, reduced operator fatigue, and better production planning can improve the economics of finishing. The system also opens interesting possibilities for future development, including vision technology capable of identifying printed content, checking dimensions, and supporting automated sorting.

The conversation concludes with a live demonstration of the robotic cutting system — showing how technologies from two Japanese manufacturers can work together to eliminate one of print production’s most persistent manual bottlenecks.

A fascinating look at robotics, industrial automation, and the future of autonomous print finishing.

Recorded at FLOW 2026 · Bad Hersfeld, Germany · INKISH