Automotive Die Cutting Services: How Do They Work?

When manufacturing automotive components, it’s imperative not to cut corners. That is, unless the design calls for cut corners, in which case those corners had better be cut just right. That’s why so many auto manufacturers use automotive die cutting services.

A qualified die cutting service can be a great asset to any automotive manufacturer. Here, we’ll discuss automotive die cutting services and how they work. You’ll learn about the many automotive applications for die cutting and slitting. We’ll also talk about why working with CTI is the fastest and easiest way to get custom automotive die cutting.

What is Die Cutting?

Let’s begin with a quick explanation of how die cutting works. Die cutting is a common industrial manufacturing process. Manufacturers use it to mass-produce specific cutouts in a rolled or sheeted material.

Flatbed die cutting and rotary die cutting are the two most common die cutting methods today. A flatbed die cutter presses a tooled metal stamp into the material. By contrast, a rotary die cutter feeds the material through a rotating die stamp. The die makes the desired cuts in the material as it passes through.

Other die cutting methods, such as water jet cutting, also exist for specialized applications. All types of die cutting, however, have to be performed using specialized equipment. That’s where contract automotive die cutting comes in.

How Automotive Die Cutting Services Work

When manufacturers need to die cut auto parts, it’s often easier for them to contract it out to another manufacturer. CTI provides our automotive die cutting services via a contract manufacturing model. That means we produce expertly made automotive parts on contract for other manufacturers.

Some of the automotive parts that CTI frequently die cuts include:

Gaskets
Headliner foam
Insulation liners
Seals and valve covers
Logos and decorative elements

We can die cut many different materials, including:

Foam
Rubber
Fabric
Sheet metal
Plastic

Why Use an Automotive Die Cutting Service?

Auto parts manufacturers use contract die cutting services for many reasons. These are some of the most important:

Using a contract manufacturer for automotive die cutting reduces the need to invest in expensive equipment. This can be a major cost saver for auto OEM manufacturers.
Well-equipped contract manufacturers like CTI offer sophisticated R&D capabilities. Our flexible facilities are ideal for product development, testing, and more.
With today’s hot auto market and constricted supply chains, sudden shifts in demand can create problems. It’s important to have contract manufacturing capacity available on demand.
In an industry with very tight tolerances, it’s crucial to have experienced operators manufacturing parts. CTI’s staff of experts means a quality, in-spec product every time.

Automotive Die Cutting from CTI

CTI is proud to offer complete automotive die cutting solutions. From flatbed to rotary and beyond, our die cutting capabilities are a perfect fit for automotive manufacturers.

Notably, we bring our decades of experience in the automotive industry to work on every project. CTI has worked with many of the top brands in the automotive industry, including Ford, Uniroyal, and Firestone. We’ve even developed new automotive manufacturing techniques for products including headliner foam.

Our facilities are equipped with everything you need for the best precision die cutting. CTI offers both flatbed and rotary die cutting, for almost any material and a variety of web dimensions. We even offer services such as custom adhesive coating and slitting for rolled goods.

Our 5-Step Approach

Through the years, we’ve developed a 5-step process to ensure a smooth and a successful outcome for our clients.

Initial Consultation: We must feel that we can provide either the facilities, the equipment, the process or the personnel that the client requires. Thus, there must be a mutual agreement that we are a good fit and will be able to work together as partners to help the client succeed.
Research & Development: Testing, trial and error product development, new product creation, and improving existing products are all expensive procedures for any company. However, they often lead to innovations and new products that increase profits in the long-term. Using our facility to ensure product success is a major cost-savings for our clients upfront.
Lab Testing/Sample: Before everyone approves the final product, it is always better to evaluate a sample and have it in hand. That allows us to discover any flaws in a design or process before we get too far along in the production cycle. We can produce a sample at any stage that we deem necessary to prevent expensive issues later on.
Pilot Run: Our commitment to a perfect end result begins with a pilot run. Only by testing all systems, equipment and materials through a complete cycle will you discover some small issue that could present a major expense if left until the final production phase.
Production: Finally, this step is the most anticipated, yet predictable phase. We already know that the final product will be perfect, since we have tested along the way and done a pilot run. At this point, everything is in place to ensure success for our clients.

Get Started!

You can get started with a free quote from CTI today. Call us at 419-924-5566 to talk to one of our friendly customer service pros, or contact us online with a short description of what you’re looking for.