Arcos cutting tests: how to know if a knife really cuts well and lasts
In any professional setting—whether food industry, hospitality, or specialty retail—the difference between a knife that cuts well and one that’s mediocre isn’t just a minor detail: it affects productivity, safety, and customer satisfaction. Arcos guarantees that its professional knives pass rigorous “cutting tests” under the most demanding industry standards, ensuring measurable, reliable, and comparable performance.
What is the ISO 8442-5 cutting test and what does it involve?
The international standard ISO 8442-5 defines the specifications and procedures for testing the sharpness and edge retention of cutting articles. The goal is to objectively assess cutting performance and durability—that is, a knife’s real cutting power and how long it maintains that performance.
The test involves putting each knife through a fixed number of cutting cycles on calibrated and standardized test paper:
- For straight-edge knives: 60 cycles.
- For serrated knives: 200 cycles.
During each cycle, the knife slices through sheets of calibrated paper, and the total thickness cut is measured each time. These results are used to calculate two key parameters: Initial Cutting Performance (ICP) and Cutting Edge Retention (CER).
Quality parameters: ICP and CER
- ICP (Initial Cutting Performance):
This value indicates the cutting ability of a freshly sharpened knife. It is calculated by adding up the thickness of paper cut in the first three cycles of the test. Knives, whether straight-edge or serrated, must exceed 50 mm.
- CER (Cutting Edge Retention):
This measures how long the edge lasts. It is calculated by adding the thickness of the paper cut in all cycles (60 for straight-edge, 200 for serrated knives). The minimum values to pass the test are 150 mm for straight-edge knives and 1,500 mm for serrated knives.
These parameters guarantee that every Arcos knife that passes laboratory testing achieves both optimal cutting capacity and superior durability, ensuring efficiency and savings in professional use.
Why trust the “Catra Test”?
The FSC certificate means that Arcos:
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Manages the purchase of FSC wood for handles and grips.
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Can subcontract processes such as machining, riveting, and packaging, always under FSC-guided monitoring and traceability.
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Ensures that professional customers can check the certificate’s scope, validity dates, and each product group directly on the official FSC website.
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Arcos cutting tests: how to know if a knife really cuts well and lasts
Many knives might look sharp behind the glass, but how can you be sure they’ll keep their edge and perform day after day? At Arcos, cutting performance isn’t left to chance or to appearances: every knife undergoes precise lab tests that prove its cutting ability and durability with continuous use. That’s what really matters for people who depend on their knives — from big kitchens to food industry production lines, or specialist shops.