KBA raises prices for sheet-fed offset presses

- Increase effective from April 15

 

- ‘The moderate price increase is justified by technical features’

 

Press manufacturer Koenig & Bauer (KBA) is to increase the price of its sheet-fed offset presses by 2.5 percent from April 15.

 

KBA said the move is part of an extensive program of measures supporting stronger and sustainable profitability across all fields of its business.

 

KBA said that, since 2009, it has been the only major press manufacturer returning a positive overall bottom line. The company has now declared the same goal specifically for its sheet-fed offset segment, after considerable streamlining of the workforce, comprehensive cost reduction measures and development of an innovative new press generation.

 

In its most recently released figures, for the nine months of 2012, KBA said high development and launch costs for new press generations in all formats, continuing pricing pressures and below-target sales caused the sheet-fed division to post a loss of €21.4 million.

 

But, despite stating that it was still feeling the effects of the economy-related weak demand in key markets that affect the entire engineering industry, KBA added that Drupa 2012 caused a bounce in the sheet-fed division’s results, with order intake after nine months up 10 percent year-on-year to €517.8 million. Sales of sheet-fed presses came to €395.4 million, close to the figure in 2011.

 

‘The positive effect of Drupa on sales will be more noticeable in the fourth quarter,’ the company said.

 

KBA’s presence at Drupa 2012 included the launch of the Rapida 106 and 145 (pictured, top) platforms, with executive vice-president for sheet-fed sales Ralf Sammeck saying: ‘With the Rapida 106 and Rapida 145 which we presented at Drupa 2012, we offer users the most modern and efficient sheet-fed offset presses on the world market for the medium and large formats.

 

‘The innovative technology of our highly automated presses, and their many unique features in terms of automation, fast make-ready and in-line processes, bring economic benefits for the user and enhance the long-term value of an investment, but they naturally also cost money.

 

‘The market, however, has recognised this added value. We were able to record a significant increase in both orders received and turnover in the sheet-fed offset segment in 2012, and have further reinforced our position as the second-largest manufacturer in the world.

 

‘In our opinion, the competition in this market is too price-driven. Needing to utilise excessive capacities, some manufacturers in the industry have for a long time concentrated blindly on securing market shares, regardless of any losses and to the detriment of their external investors. That hardly makes sense.

 

‘The moderate price increase for our sheet-fed presses is justified by their technical features and will contribute to sustainable improvement of our profitability.’

 

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