KBA breathes new life into gravure press

Prinovis ordered retrofits on two large gravure presses from KBA-FT Engineering some time ago, with the first press returning to operation at the end of March. The electrical control system of the second press, which is in operation at the firm’s site in Ahrensburg, Germany, was brought into line with cutting-edge technology. The retrofit carried out comprised the replacement of several control components from the previous vendor, EAE, with the latest technology from Siemens. The existing wiring could be kept thanks to a Plug & Play architecture developed specially for the interfaces affected, thus reducing the installation time at the reelstands, printing units, superstructure, folders and switchboards to a few weeks. Numerous servo-assisted drives were also exchanged including the corresponding controls as well as the complete control level.

Along with updating the second press’ electrical control system, provision has been made for extensive mechanical add-ons, whereby the assembly work is scheduled to begin soon.

KBA said that in the current market environment such retrofits pay off since the continued high level of availability of robust presses is guaranteed at a fraction of the cost of a new press.

KBA-FT Engineering is carrying out a number of other retrofits to bring historical press equipment up-to-date, including rebuilding a gravure reelstand with Reliance controls and drives, again using Siemens technology, in Thann, France, and an extensive upgrade of a press console close to Paris, which comprises the implementation of cutting-edge devices from HMI.