Founded in 1986, Rapidity is a London based print and communications company delivering high quality packaging, print, and display solutions. With a strong focus on innovation, the business continually invests in technology to improve efficiency and production flexibility.
To enhance its finishing capabilities, Rapidity installed the VeloBlade Volta 69+ with patented VeloTaper technology from Vivid.
“The VeloBlade has made a huge difference to the way we work. It’s much easier to use, it’s sped up turnaround times, and it’s given us far more flexibility across the team.”
Before adopting digital cutting, Rapidity relied on conventional die-cutting systems, including B1 Crosland and Heidelberg Windmill. While these systems delivered consistent results, they were labour intensive and required specialist knowledge to operate. As a result, only two trained members of staff were able to run them, creating a bottleneck in production and limiting flexibility across the team.
The process also required new tooling for each job, adding both time and cost, particularly for short runs and bespoke work.
With the introduction of the VeloBlade Volta 69+, Rapidity moved to a more flexible digital cutting workflow. The system is significantly easier to operate, allowing five team members to run jobs confidently. This has reduced reliance on specialist operators and improved flexibility across the production team.
The impact on productivity was immediate. With more operators able to use the system, work can now be distributed more efficiently across the team, freeing up experienced staff to focus on other areas of production.
Turnaround times have also improved significantly. Jobs can now be set up quickly and left to run while operators move on to other tasks, helping streamline the finishing process.
The move to digital cutting has also removed the need for physical dies, eliminating per-job tooling costs and reducing setup time. This has made short runs and custom jobs far more cost effective.
Rapidity also benefits from the ability to produce fast prototypes, allowing designs to be tested and approved before committing to full production. Even when conventional die-cutting is used for final runs, the VeloBlade adds valuable flexibility at the proofing stage. Due to these combined efficiencies, the business achieved a rapid return on investment.
The VeloBlade Volta 69+ is now used across a wide range of applications, including greyboard boxes, kiss-cut stickers, custom shapes, and packaging production. It has become an integral part of daily operations and runs consistently from the start to the end of each working day.
Rapidity chose Vivid based on a strong existing relationship and a proven track record of support. From installation and training through to aftercare, the experience has been seamless. Vivid’s focus on making processes easier for users, including online ordering of consumables, reinforced confidence in both the system and the partnership.
“Vivid has always had a great relationship with us and went out of their way to make everything work. From installation and training to the aftercare and support, it was the right company and the right system for us.”
By adopting the VeloBlade Volta 69+, Rapidity has transformed its finishing workflow. The business now benefits from faster turnaround times, reduced costs, and greater operational flexibility, helping it respond more effectively to the demands of modern print production.
www.vivid-online.com