KBA maintains pursuit of growth in packaging

At drupa, KBA will present a number of technologies and innovations from across the group, including those for the flexible packaging market through KBA-Flexotecnica, in folding carton printing with medium and large format sheet-fed presses from KBA-Sheetfed, and direct decorating options through KBA-MetalPrint and KBA-Kammann. Coding technology from KBA-Metronic will also be presented. These systems are mainly integrated into packaging and other production lines, but can also be utilized in printing and packaging plants. KBA-Metronic will demonstrate this on the KBA stand at this year’s drupa. With the combination of the udaFORMAXX separating system and a carbon dioxide laser from the laserSYSTEM K series, the KBA subsidiary will present an option for individually applying addresses to print products and just-in-time marking of packaging. During printing a laser-sensitive pigment layer can be applied to cardboard, paper, film, etc. The laser beam then creates high contrast marking. The individual marking of the packaging with a laser can be done at any point in the production chain.

KBA-Flexotecnica has developed Neo XD LR, a ‘hybrid’ CI flexo press that can run solvent or water-based inks and be configured with UV LED or electron beam (EB) curing. This will be presented at drupa, as will KBA's own finishing technology for the first time.

KBA said it generates around 70 percent of its revenue of over one billion EUR (1.1 billion USD) in the packaging market. It recently reported group revenue in the first quarter of 2016 up 46 percent year-on-year, including sales in the Digital & Web segment up 109.8 percent year-on-year, with order intake up 22.6 percent and order backlog up 16.9 percent. Results in the Sheetfed and Special segment were also up, with sales growing 40.8 percent and 40.2 percent year-on-year, respectively, and new presses for the package printing market contributing to this all-round growth.

KBA’s close alliance with HP for the development and production of the world’s largest digital press, the HP T1100S PageWide Web Press, for the corrugated market is also indirectly attributable to the growing packaging market, although in this case KBA is only the contractor and HP markets the press.

Read L&L’s preview of label and package printing and converting technology to see at drupa in issue 2, 2016, which can be read here, as well as an extended online preview, available here