Automotive application guide

Cutting technical automotive materials

In addition to adhesive tapes, automotive workshops sometimes need to cut flexible or technical materials: sleeves, films, technical textiles, foams, straps, protection, Velcro, cords or non-adhesive substrates. Cutting machines standardise lengths and improve repeatability.

DERFI TBC machines are suitable for cutting technical materials. The range covers cold cutting, hot cutting, angle cutting, sensor cutting, automatic stacking and extra-wide versions up to 200 or 300 mm depending on the model.

Cut sleeves and cable protection
Prepare technical textiles
Cut films and non-adhesive strips
Standardise cutting lengths
Limit manual cutting errors
Reduce repetitive handling
Improve workstation organisation
Produce consistent series of parts

Application example: automatic cutting of sleeves, textiles, films, foams or straps in an automotive workshop.

Choose the machine according to the material and cutting type

Cold cutting preserves material properties, hot cutting limits fraying, angle cutting prepares specific parts, sensors improve accuracy on marks and extra-wide versions can process wider films or technical substrates.

Cutting sleeves and wiring harness protection

Automotive wiring harnesses often use sleeves, protection, flexible tubes or protective elements that must be cut to a precise length before assembly.

This application prepares consistent wiring kits, reduces differences between operators and standardises lengths before line integration, maintenance or repair.

Cutting sleeves and automotive wiring harness protection

Risk to avoid Irregular lengths, manual cutting errors, wasted time at electrical workstations, poorly prepared wiring kits or material deformation.

Examples of use

Cut protective sleeves for wiring harnesses
Prepare lengths of insulating sleeves
Cut flexible tubes or cable protection
Produce series of identical lengths for the assembly line
Prepare elements before electrical assembly
Limit manual cutting errors
Standardise wiring kits
Prepare lengths for maintenance or repair

Suitable DERFI machines

TBC50 Programmable cold cutting for sleeves, tubes, straps, Velcro and non-adhesive materials.

TBC50-H Hot cutting to limit fraying on textile or synthetic materials.

TBC50-HX Hot cutting with straight or angled cut for sleeves, cords, straps and technical tapes.

TBC55-SK Sensor cutting with automatic stacking for organised high-rate series production.

TBC552-L Extra-wide automatic cutting up to 200 mm for wide technical materials.

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Cutting technical textiles, foams and straps

Technical textiles, foams, straps or flexible materials are used in interiors, seats, insulation, protection, trims and certain automotive accessories.

Automated cutting prepares consistent strips before sewing, assembly, interior fitting or kitting. Hot cutting is particularly useful where the material is liable to fray.

Cutting automotive technical textiles, foams and straps

Risk to avoid Frayed edges, irregular lengths, slow manual cutting, material waste, poor repeatability or inconsistent kits of flexible parts.

Examples of use

Cut textile strips for interior trim
Prepare protective foams
Cut straps to consistent lengths
Prepare strips for seats or trim
Cut textiles before sewing or assembly
Limit fraying with hot cutting
Produce kits of repeated flexible parts
Prepare elements for special-purpose vehicles

Suitable DERFI machines

TBC50 Simple cold cutting for non-adhesive materials to a programmed length.

TBC50-H Hot cutting to seal edges and limit fraying.

TBC50-HX Angled or straight hot cutting for textiles, straps and technical tapes.

TBC55-SK Photoelectric sensor and automatic stacking for series of flexible parts.

TBC553-L Extra-wide cutting up to 300 mm for wide textile strips or industrial films.

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Cutting films, non-adhesive strips and protective coverings

Some films or protective materials must be cut to length before application to a part, packaging, assembly workstation or protection area.

Automated cutting prepares consistent formats for panels, glazing, temporary protection, spacer strips or non-adhesive substrates used in production.

Cutting automotive films, non-adhesive strips and protective coverings

Risk to avoid Irregular formats, material waste, manual cutting too slow, protection poorly matched to the part or poor workstation organisation.

Examples of use

Cut protective films to a fixed length
Prepare non-adhesive strips for packing
Cut temporary surface protection
Prepare substrates before kit assembly
Cut films for panels or glazing
Standardise formats for repetitive workstations
Limit material waste
Improve the preparation rate

Suitable DERFI machines

TBC50 Cold cutting of films, non-adhesive strips and technical substrates.

TBC552-L Extra-wide 200 mm cutting for wider films or technical strips.

TBC553-L Extra-wide 300 mm cutting for industrial films and wide flexible substrates.

ZCM1000 / ZCM2000 Programmed cutting of standard or technical adhesive tapes.

ZCM1100 / ZCM2200 Safe cutting for sensitive workstations using adhesive tapes.

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Cutting with printed registration marks or repeated formats

Some printed materials, labels, films or parts must be cut according to a mark or precise length. Sensor-equipped machines improve accuracy and avoid positioning errors.

This application is useful for long production runs, printed strips, marked substrates, technical labels, marked films or assembly kits requiring strictly identical formats.

Cutting with printed registration marks or repeated formats

Risk to avoid Poor cut positioning, missed mark, defect on printed label, material scrap or lack of repeatability on long runs.

Examples of use

Cut a material with a printed registration mark
Prepare technical labels or marked substrates
Cut printed strips according to a marking
Produce identical formats for assembly kits
Ensure repeatability on long runs
Prevent errors caused by manual cutting
Improve workstation cleanliness
Limit rejects

Suitable DERFI machines

TBC50-S Cutting with photoelectric sensor for marks, labels and printed strips.

TBC55-SK Sensor cutting with automatic stacking for organised production.

TBC552-L Cutting wide formats up to 200 mm with industrial repeatability.

TBC553-L Extra-wide 300 mm cutting for wide films, strips or industrial substrates.

ZCM2000 Programmed lengths for standard or technical adhesive tapes.

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Use case overview

Cutting technical automotive materials makes it possible to prepare sleeves, textiles, foams, straps, films, non-adhesive strips or marked substrates with consistent lengths and improved repeatability. Machine choice depends on the material, width, need for hot cutting, presence of marks and expected throughput.

Key points on cutting types

TBC50 is suitable for cold cutting of non-adhesive technical materials.
TBC50-H allows hot cutting and limits fraying of textiles and synthetic materials.
TBC50-HX adds angled cutting to hot applications.
TBC50-S is suitable for cutting with a photoelectric sensor and printed registration marks.
TBC55-SK allows sensor-controlled cutting and automatic stacking.
TBC552-L and TBC553-L meet extra-wide material requirements.

Key points for workstation organisation

TBC machines standardise lengths and reduce manual cutting errors.
Hot-cutting versions improve the finish of materials prone to fraying.
Versions with sensors improve accuracy on registration marks or printed labels.
Extra-wide versions process wide films and technical substrates.
ZCM1000 / ZCM2000 remain appropriate for standard or technical adhesive tapes.
ZCM1100 / ZCM2200 are suitable for workstations requiring safe cutting.