Custom Label Die Cutting
At Midwest Label Supply, we specialize in custom die cutting services for a variety of applications, including prime labels, food, beverage, advanced medical applications, and other industrial needs. Our capabilities include precision rotary die cutting, flatbed die cutting, plotting, cutting, patterned adhesive laminations, and both flexographic and digital print with die cut to meet your exact label dimensions. We also offer laser cutting, laminating, cold forming, embossing, slitting, rewind, shear and crush cut slitting, and “soft strike” die cutting for auto-dispense applications, making us a versatile partner for your custom die cutting projects.
Stand Alone Plotting and Cutting
Our entry-level die cutting service utilizes a plotter cutter, which traces the die line of the label for precision cuts. This machine is also capable of laminating, making it ideal for small lot custom die cutting tasks, such as producing just one label or more. The plotter cutter operates offline and roll-to-roll, which provides flexibility in our offerings. Unlike other manufacturers who may only bid on projects involving both printing and die cutting, we offer standalone custom die cutting services, making us a valuable partner for label printers and co-packagers. We can handle multiple depths within the same cut file for perforations, multi-layer applications, and kiss cutting, all while aligning with your digital registration to ensure accurate cut points.
Our die cut converting is done "on-demand," ensuring rapid turnaround for your projects. In fact, our entire label, sticker, and vinyl printing process operates on-demand, allowing most label manufacturing to be completed in less than a single shift. This agility enables our customers to create, test, and iterate on labels quickly, making us an excellent choice for rapid production and prototyping. Please note that we only perform custom die cutting on pre-printed rolls of labels; we do not offer blank label die cutting.
Because of our ability to accommodate small runs, Midwest Label Supply is an ideal partner for label prototyping and MVP creation as your business grows. Combine our custom die cutting services with our expertise in variable and individualized QR codes, as well as Data Matrix label applications, to create fully customized and trackable labels.
Custom Die Cutting FAQs
How much does a custom die cost?
Depending on your needs, you should call around to a few label manufacturers. With advances to die cutting, opportunities for fast digital turnaround can occur. For instance laser die cutting can be done fairly quickly. Custom cutting dies usually cost $50 to $4000, depending on size and complexity. The typical lead time for a die can take one week.
What is a custom die cut?
A custom die cut refers to the label material cut out. For instance if you want your label to be a plain circle, there are often off the shelf circular labels available. If however you want your label sticker to be a particular shape you, i.e. the shape of your logo, you may need the label to be custom die cut.
What materials can you die cut?
We work with just about anything you can put on a roll. That includes paper, vinyl, BOPP, polyester, foam, medical-grade films, and adhesive tapes. We're a 3M authorized converter, so we handle a lot of industrial and medical substrates that require precise converting. If you're not sure whether we can cut your material, send us a sample and we'll figure it out.
What's the turnaround time for custom die cutting?
Fast. Our die cut converting is done on-demand, and most jobs are completed in less than a single shift. If you have a rush project, let us know when you reach out and we'll do everything we can to get it turned around same day. We understand that sometimes you need labels yesterday.
Die Cutting for Medical and Industrial Applications
If you're in the medical device or industrial space, you already know that tolerances matter and the wrong converter can cost you a lot more than money. We handle precision die cutting for medical tapes, wound care components, diagnostic strips, and device assembly parts. As a 3M authorized converter, we work with their full line of medical adhesives and industrial tapes on a regular basis.
Our facility follows cGMP compliance protocols, and we understand the documentation requirements that come with medical converting. Whether you need cleanroom-compatible processing or lot traceability, we've built our workflow around those needs. We also handle cold forming, lamination, and multi-layer constructions for more complex medical assemblies.
If you're looking for a converting partner who speaks your language, check out our medical label converting page for more details on our capabilities.
Materials We Work With
One of the advantages of working with Midwest Label Supply is that we're not limited to one or two material families. Here's what we run through our equipment on a regular basis:
Paper and Cardstock - The bread and butter of label die cutting. We handle everything from thin tissue-weight papers up through heavy cardstock for tags and hang tabs. If it comes on a roll, we can cut it.
Vinyl and Polyester Films - Durable, weather-resistant, and chemical-resistant. These are the go-to materials for industrial labels, outdoor applications, and anywhere the label needs to survive harsh conditions.
BOPP (Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene) - A popular choice for consumer product labels. BOPP gives you that clean, professional look with good moisture resistance. It runs well on our rotary equipment and produces clean die cuts.
Adhesive Tapes - As a 3M authorized converter, we work with their VHB tapes, transfer adhesives, and specialty bonding tapes. We also handle adhesive tapes from other manufacturers for gaskets, seals, and assembly applications.
Foam - PE, PU, and EVA foams for cushioning, gasketing, and sealing applications. Our flatbed and plotter cutting equipment handles foam cleanly without the compression issues you sometimes see with rotary cutting.
Specialty Medical Films - Medical-grade adhesive films, breathable films for wound care, and barrier materials for device assembly. These materials require careful handling and precise converting, and that's exactly what we do.
Combine Die Cutting with Variable Data
Here's where things get interesting. Most die cutting shops can cut your labels, but how many of them can also print individualized data on every single piece? We can. Our digital printing capabilities mean we can apply unique QR codes, serial numbers, barcodes, or variable text to each label before die cutting to your custom shape.
Think about it: custom-shaped labels with unique serialized QR codes for product authentication, or die-cut medical labels with individual lot numbers and expiration dates. Our variable data label printing integrates directly with our die cutting workflow, so you get one finished product instead of coordinating between two vendors.
This combination is especially powerful for pharmaceutical labels, asset tracking, and any application where each label needs to carry unique information in a non-standard shape.
Related Die Cutting Services
- Die Cutting Services - Overview of our full die cutting capabilities
- Pressure Sensitive Labels - Custom PS labels with precision die cutting
- Medical Label Converting - cGMP compliant medical device converting
- Short Run Labels - Small quantity labels with fast turnaround