"

Creasing, perforating and grooving all make a line on printed material, so they are often treated as one kind of job. In fact each has its own purpose, material and machine. Choosing wrongly means cracked folds, tears in the wrong place, or untidy folds.

Creasing: a clean fold

Creasing presses a line into paper without cutting it, so thick paper folds without cracking. It is used for folded brochures, invitations, cards and company profiles. Example machine: the E660 Electric Creasing Machine for 85–400 gsm paper, up to 4,000 sheets per hour.

Perforating: a tear line

Perforating makes a row of small holes or cuts along a line so paper tears easily by hand. It is used for coupons, tickets, forms and receipts. Example machine: the 470 A Perforating Machine with a 460 mm working width for 60–800 gsm paper, compact at 10 kg and 20 W.

Grooving: a V-groove in thick board

Grooving cuts a V-shaped groove into thick board or cardboard so it can be folded into a sharp, neat angle. It is used mainly for rigid boxes, gift boxes and hardcover book covers. Example machine: the KX-800 Grooving Machine with automatic groove positioning from 20–500 mm, 90°, 120° and 145° angles, and 1–5 mm groove thickness.

A quick way to choose

  • Paper that has to fold — choose creasing.
  • Material that has to tear off — choose perforating.
  • Thick board that has to fold into a box — choose grooving.

If your work is just starting to grow, creasing is usually the first one you need. See the full buying order in 5 must-have machines to start a printing business.

Frequently asked questions

Can one machine do all three processes?

In the Lexia catalog, each process has its own machine: the E660 for creasing, the 470 A for perforating and the KX-800 for grooving.

Can grooving be used on ordinary paper?

Grooving is meant for thick board and cardboard; the KX-800 cuts grooves 1–5 mm thick. For paper, use creasing.

Can perforating handle thick paper?

The 470 A handles paper from 60 to 800 gsm, from thin paper to thick card.

Browse the categories for creasing machines, perforating machines and grooving machines, or contact Lexia Machinery in Medan for advice.

"