Why local laser post-coating changes how edging is specified, stocked, and supplied.
Laser edging has earned its reputation in New Zealand workshops. Clean finish. No glue line. Less mess. Faster changeovers. The problem has never been the result. It has been getting the right tape, in the right décor, width, and thickness, without waiting months or gambling on minimum order quantities.
That supply gap has slowed adoption. Not because joiners doubt laser technology, but because the logistics have not kept up with how fast design ranges and materials move.
After 18 months of development and testing, Hutchco has commissioned New Zealand’s first laser post-coating system at its Highbrook, Auckland site. The aim is simple. Make laser edging work in the real world, not just on paper.
The supply problem nobody enjoyed talking about.
Laser edging relies on precision. That precision normally comes from co-extruded laser tape produced offshore. It looks great, but it locks supply into long lead times, fixed ranges, and high stock exposure.
In an import-dependent market like New Zealand, that creates friction.
As Mark Leith explains, “In an import-dependent market like New Zealand’s, the challenge is stocking high volumes of the right decors without carrying obsolete lines as technologies and product ranges change.”
The result has been hesitation. Many workshops have stuck with hotmelt, not because they prefer glue, but because availability matters more than theory when a job is on the floor.
What laser post-coating actually does.
Laser post-coating flips the supply model. Instead of importing finished laser tape in every possible variation, Hutchco now has capacity to apply a 0.2 mm colour-matched polymer functional layer locally to standard ABS and PVC edging. That produces edging compatible with laser, Hyfuse, hot-air, and NiR systems.
In practical terms:
- Laser-ready edging produced on demand
110 plus zero-joint décors available without offshore delays - Reduced risk of slow-moving stock
- Faster response to changing décor ranges
This is not about replacing co-extruded tape. It removes the supply constraint that has limited wider adoption of laser edging NZ across the trade.
Laser edging NZ vs co-extruded and hotmelt
This is where most of the hesitation sits.
Co-extruded laser edging remains the benchmark for finish. Hotmelt remains widely used because it is easy to source and familiar to run. Post-coated laser edging now sits between the two, delivering a comparable finish while removing supply constraints.
During commissioning, Hutchco worked with joiners and machinery suppliers to run real trials. The focus was processing performance, not presentation.
Simon Hornby from Jacks noted: “Running on-demand PVC/ABS post-coated laser tape would likely require minimal changes to current processing settings.” He added, “In practical use, it appears the difference between most post-coated and co-extruded is minimal.”
Henk van Oeveren of HPTech supported this from a machinery perspective, noting “it appears to deliver a bond and finish very close to co-extruded.” He also pointed out that correct setup of heat, speed, and pressure remains key.
Why local control changes the equation
Laser edging is not just a material choice. It is a system. Material, machine, settings, and supply all need to align.
By bringing gluing, slitting, and now laser post-coating into its Auckland operation, Hutchco has removed several points of delay.
The ProJumbo slitting system allows 275 mm master rolls to be cut to any required width. Combined with post-coating, this means décor, width, thickness, and application method can be aligned locally without relying on offshore production cycles.
For the trade, that means:
- Shorter lead times
- Greater confidence specifying laser edging NZ
- Less risk when introducing new décors
- A supply chain that responds to actual jobs
You can view current décor availability here:
https://hutchco.co.nz/availability
