Custom Die Cut Tooling Services

Tooling built in-house, on your timeline

Die cut tooling is the specialized tool built to your exact part shape, the foundation every production die-cutting run depends on. We manufacture both rotary and flatbed dies in-house, integrating your specifications directly into the design process instead of routing tooling through a third-party vendor.

Keeping tooling in-house means faster turnaround from design to first part, and one point of contact if a tool needs adjustment once production starts.

Alt text Die Cut Tooling

Why in-house tooling

A tool built and adjusted under the same roof as production doesn't wait on a vendor's queue, changes get made quickly, and issues get caught before they become a full production run of scrap.

It also means tooling can be sized to the job, from a single prototype die to complex, oversize tools for high-volume runs, without switching manufacturing partners between stages.

What We Build With Die Cut Tooling

Rotary Die Tooling

Cylindrical dies built for high-speed, high-volume production runs on roll-fed material.

Flatbed Die Tooling

Sheet-fed dies suited to shorter runs, thicker materials, and designs that need precise registration.

Steel Rule Dies

Sharp steel blades set into a base board for cost-effective cutting, kept sharp on our own maintenance schedule to extend tool life.

Oversize and Complex Tooling

Larger, multi-cavity, or intricate tools engineered for parts standard tooling can't handle.

Rapid Prototype Tooling

Fast-turnaround tools for validating a design before committing to a full production die.

In-House Design and Manufacturing

Every tool designed, built, and adjusted under one roof, no third-party vendor delays between design and first part. Tool design through build is 100% vertically integrated.

Materials

Die cut tooling is built for foam, self-adhesive tapes, plastics, paperboard, cloth, and fiberboard, matched to the material and run length your part needs.

Browse materials for die cutting ›

Industries We Serve

Our tooling capabilities are built to meet the demanding standards of automotive, aerospace, medical and more.

Why Choose Rapid Die Cut

Advanced Technology

Fully automated tooling design and manufacturing backed by 35+ years of experience and ISO 9001:2015 certification.

Production Versatility

The same in-house process scales from a single prototype die to full production runs.

Instant Online Quoting

Get pricing in minutes through our online configurator, no waiting on a manual quote for standard jobs.

More from Rapid Die Cut

Our automated digital manufacturing platform rapidly reviews your CAD files and identifies the best tool for the job from our 8 industrial cutting technologies.

Die Cutting

CNC Knife Cutting

Creasing and Scoring

Adhesive Lamination

Digital Cutting

Kiss Cutting

Laser Cutting

Roll Slitting

Waterjet Cutting

Frequently Asked Questions

What is die cut tooling?

Die cut tooling is the custom-built rotary or flatbed die that gives a part its exact shape in production, the physical tool a die cutting press uses. It's designed and manufactured to your specifications before a production run starts.

How fast can I get tooling built?

Because rotary and flatbed dies are designed and built in-house, tooling turnaround is faster than routing through a third-party vendor.

What's the difference between rotary and flatbed dies?

Rotary dies are cylindrical and built for high-speed, high-volume roll-fed production. Flatbed dies cut sheet-fed material and suit shorter runs, thicker stock, or designs that need precise registration.

What are steel rule dies used for?

Steel rule dies use sharp steel blades set into a base board, a cost-effective option for many die-cutting jobs. We keep our own die inventory on a regular sharpening and maintenance schedule, so every steel rule die holds its edge and cuts precisely throughout a production run. We don't provide dies to customers or offer repair or resharpening as an outside service, this is part of how we maintain the tooling we build and run in-house.

Can you build oversize or complex tooling?

Yes. In-house design and manufacturing means we can engineer larger, multi-cavity, or intricate tools that standard tooling can't handle, sized to the job rather than a catalog size.

Do I need a CAD file to get tooling quoted?

Yes. Get started by selecting your desired material, choosing our Cut to Shape service, and walking through the steps to get a tooling quote started.

Die Cut Tooling

Fast, Accurate Tooling Built for Production Die Cutting

Tooling built in-house, on your timeline

Why in-house tooling