TPC Printing & Packaging adds KBA Rapida 105

Based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, TPC Printing & Packaging is an independent producer of high quality custom folding cartons and promotional packaging for a number of markets, including the pharmaceutical, food, spirits, and cosmetics industries. The company celebrated its 90^th anniversary, as well as posting its largest sales year to date, in 2014.

With the addition of the 8-color KBA Rapida, the firm’s press inventory includes two 8-color, one 6-color, one 2-color and two silkscreen presses. The Rapida will be replacing the 6-color non-KBA press, while it will continue to operate its existing 8- and 2-color non-KBA presses.

TPC Printing & Packaging’s new KBA Rapida 105 features full UV capabilities and an in-line coater, along with board and plastic packages. It is also equipped with full automation including plate changing and specially-equipped board and plastic packages, to allow it to better handle MPE and plastics printing, plus KBA’s ErgoTronic ColorControl automatic color measuring system.

TPC Printing & Packaging’s Rapida 105 press is equipped with a cartridge-based complete UV drying system, meaning it can move the UV system around on the press where it is needed. 

Joseph A. Schmissrauter III, TPC Printing & Packaging president, said: ‘There are a number of key distinctions that differentiate our company from our competitors, with 95 percent of our sales derived from a select niche market – producing specialty decorated, shaped and printed folded cartons for the retail shelf – for a group of world-class consumer retailers and well-known brand names in the distilled spirits, over-the-counter pharmaceutical, cosmetic, fragrance, and health and beauty industries that sit in the first or second position of their segment.

‘These firms require highly-decorated, highly-visible packaging with extensive printing processes calling for eight to nine machine passes through value-added processes. Our sterling reputation of providing unique packaging services over these 90-plus years is to supply our customers with first-rate, unique promotional packaging to support their brands in the market.'

TPC Printing & Packaging customers have indicated that the business is in line for new major business this year.

‘The on-going trend in our industry has been to produce shorter run length jobs. Our challenge is to reduce our make-ready times and thus turn our jobs around much faster. When we visited the KBA factory in Dresden to test the press, we sent three of our most complicated 8-color jobs to test run. The Rapida press was able to make-ready all three in 53 minutes. That was very impressive.’

Schmissrauter plans to now complete the rigorous certification process involved in becoming a G7 Master Printer with the new KBA.

This qualification program identifies printing companies that have been trained to proof or print to G7 Neutral Print Density Curves and can meet print buyer requirements to produce proofs or printed output conforming to the metrics that reliably render brand images across print locations and different printing types.

The qualification mark means that the printer uses the modern technology based on colorimetry, and employs G7 process controls. G7 Masters bear the IDEAlliance seal of approval.

Attaining G7 Master status is a competitive goal for those providing creative, pre-media and printing services, worldwide.

Flexographic Technical Association (FTA), in partnership with IDEAlliance, recently introduced an interactive online course, ‘G7, Flexography and the Production Environment’, designed to deliver a comprehensive overview of G7 methodology and outline its proper implementation to enhance any flexographic workflow.

Pictured (from left): Soren Larsen, KBA North America senior vice president of sheet-fed sales; Jan Drechsel, KBA vice-president of sheet-fed sales; Sam Creel, KBA sales representative; Joseph A. Schmissrauter III, TPC Printing & Packaging president; and Gary Easter, TPC Printing & Packaging printing manager