When your brand matters, you can trust Zünd precision: LNI

Luna Nameplate Industries (LNI) is behind a wide array of badges, labels, and nameplates that are a part of Australia’s industrial processes and everyday living, and the Melbourne company has just acquired a second Zünd cutting platform to position itself for growing demand. For more than half a century, LNI has been at the forefront of nameplate manufacturing technology and along the way, has added automation and the flexibility of digitally printed output, often providing solutions that are a hybrid of these technologies, said national sales and marketing manager Michael Smith.

With a company motto of “When your brand matters”, LNI has the solutions – whether it’s 3D chrome emblems, metal or decorative nameplates, self-adhesive decals, or Lenscal (domed) badges. Independently certified to IATF 16949, ISO 9001, and ISO 14001, LNI’s growing client portfolio for validated and compliant branding products – in sectors as diverse as defence, automotive, and pop-culture merchandising – has created the demand for rapid, intelligent, highly automated digital cutting.

With a Zünd S3 L-1600 automated digital flatbed cutting platform already on the production floor for several years, LNI decided to add another Zünd S3 L-1600 to handle the growing workload. LNI has been a valued Zünd customer for more than two decades, having first invested in Zünd digital cutting technology in 2002. Since then, the company has continually recognised the benefits of Swiss-built precision, reliability, and long-term value by upgrading through successive generations of Zünd technology.

“The Zünd S3 L-1600 features a 1800mm-wide by 1630mm-long cutting area and can process materials up to 25mm thick, depending on the selected tooling, offering exceptional versatility across a broad range of industrial applications,” said Zünd Australia technical sales and applications manager William Berlowitz.

LNI technical manager Adam Smith explained that the Universal Cutting Tool - UCT, Kiss-Cut Tool - KCT, and the recently installed Zünd Kiss-Cut Module - KCM provide the flexibility to  seamlessly transition between full-depth cutting and precision kiss-cutting, where only the top layer of the material is cut. No tool changes are needed, resulting in minimal downtime. “The machine gives us higher speeds, better registrations and enables us to produce thinner backings, which works well with soft labels such as vinyls, polyesters, and polycard film,” Adam said.

The Electronic Oscillating Tool - EOT-250, designed for processing soft to medium-density materials, features a 2.5mm oscillating stroke and high-frequency operation, delivering fast cutting speeds, excellent productivity, and efficient throughput.

Both Zünd S3 L-1600 cutters are equipped with Zünd’s fully automated Sheet Feeder and Stacker system, which automatically loads, unloads, and stacks sheets. The system can also process up to two material stacks simultaneously, making it ideal for high-volume production.

The second platform has enabled LNI to also meet deadlines on premium-quality automotive decals and vehicle graphic kits made from vinyl and polyurethane films, as well as labels and graphic panels.

The company has also invested in a suite of Canon digital presses – a seven-colour Arizona 2380 flatbed and a five-colour Colorado M5W roll-to-roll with varnish options for outdoor signage materials. The Canons have enabled LNI to print VDP embossed plates from serialised databases. When Zünd cutting is required, the Canon printers can also print registration marks and job information on each sheet, which are automatically recognised by Zünd Cut Center (ZCC4). This enables the cutter to accurately identify, align, and process each job with minimal operator intervention. LNI also has three laser cutters/engravers from Trotec Lasers Australia.

Michael said the Zünd machines have opened the door for LNI to markets in medical, mining, home improvement, and marine. With vehicle modifier Walkinshaw (famous for its HSV marques) as a client, LNI provides decals, build-plates, and validation plates used in up-speccing and in vehicle conversions to Australian right-hand drive. He is especially excited at the explosion in merchandising orders, with LNI now manufacturing licensed merchandising collateral, including popular Fan Emblems for the AFL and NRL, and selling product over Amazon. LNI also generates merchandising product using the Warner Brothers’ Harry Potter, DC Comics, and Looney Tunes brands.

A pivotal part of the LNI operation is LunaKrome, an automated workflow for manufacturing flexible 3D chrome badges. LNI has the exclusive A/NZ licence for LunaKrome from the process developer. The process generates badges and emblems that appear like injection-moulded chrome but are flexible and durable. CAD-developed concepts are used to create a 3D prototype which is then printed in full colour with chrome and adhesive backing. Michael said, “Whether it’s in validation and compliance, or in brand management, we see an exciting future.”

Report by Peter Kohn, published in ProPrint, August 2026.
Publisher, Charted Media Group, a division of The Intermedia Group.