Offset Printing and Packaging invests in KBA Rapida 106

The new press can print with both conventional and UV inks and coatings, and is equipped with a water cooling facility to reduce heat in the press hall, and wear and tear on peripheral components. A CX package and a plastics package allow printing of a great variety of materials of up to 1.2mm thickness. It has a top speed of 18,000sph and simultaneous plate changing technology (SPC), which allows all the plates to be changed in 50 seconds whilst other washing activities take place. The press is also equipped with KBA’s unique sensoric in-feed system (SIS) and roller declutching, which are offered as standard on the 106 Rapida range.

It joins a Rapida 142, allowing the company to offer its customers both B1 and large format carton production in one location.

Vince Brearey, managing director of operations at Offset Print and Packaging, commented: ‘Our business has been built on this technology, which has allowed us maintain our customer base and grow even further. We looked at other manufacturers but our operators are very comfortable with KBA technology and the build quality of the presses is first class.

‘We have researched the potential of adding a highly specified machine that would allow us to take out two of our existing presses, a B2 5-color press from another manufacturer and our existing 7-color Rapida 105. With the equipment, we have specified on the new press, we will be able to make ready extremely quickly, with minimal waste and comfortably match the performance of the outgoing presses.’

For color control at high speeds, the press is equipped with QualiTronic ColorControl, KBA’s in-line color measurement system, alongside the Ergotronic Colour control desk for standardized print quality analysis and reporting. The performance data of the press will be automatically captured for analysis via KBA’s LogoTronic Professional to provide detailed reports on every activity taking place on the press. Additionally, this system provides the link to pre-press, an MIS system and allows the storage of the colour quality data produced by the press via KBA’s Qualitronic QualityPass and QualiTronic ColorView.

‘Most customers would now want us to guarantee that we have all the relevant reporting methods to ensure that what comes out of the press is at the desired level of quality,’ added Brearey. ‘Colour consistency and its reporting are extremely important for our clients and will certainly play a part in attracting new ones. To have a tool like QualiTronic Colour Control alongside Quality Pass for ISO 12647-2 and ColorView will provide them with even greater reassurance of our ability to match and maintain color to very tight tolerances throughout a press run.’

KBA (UK) sales director Chris Scully commented: ‘We have had a long and successful association with Offset Printing and Packaging in mid and large format presses. However, we never take anything for granted. We are absolutely delighted that it has chosen to return to KBA for its latest investment. It has added a highly specified, highly productive machine to work alongside its existing large format press. This has to be one of the broadest offerings of all the independent packaging companies in the UK. Once again, our technology has been chosen ahead of the competition for the UK packaging market and this is extremely satisfying.’