KBA at drupa: Creative meeting point for offset and digital printers

The new KBA digital press at Drupa pumped out gang-stitched magazines and promotional brochures via a SigmaLine inline finishing system from Müller Martini. SigmaLine systems have already been installed at numerous production plants worldwide. They are controlled via a smart data and process management system supplied by Connex, which ensures the smooth and consistent integration of presses and finishing equipment in a single workflow. The SigmaLine’s modular design allows it to be customised for the production of both paperbacks and hardcover books plus other stitched products.

Sheetfed offset: a raft of winning features in all formats

For visitors seeking frontline sheetfed offset technology, process innovations, and the fastest press speeds and job changes in B2 to large format, KBA was the place to be. The biggest litho press at Drupa 2012 was a new plinth-mounted six-colour Rapida 145 with coater and automated pile logistics, the longest was a Rapida 106 with twelve printing, coating and drying units for four-colour perfect printing and coating, and the newest and most advanced B2 (29in) press was a five-colour Rapida 76 with dedicated plate-cylinder drives, no-sidelay infeed and an array of other features adopted from the Rapida 106.

Rapida 145: redefining the benchmark in large format

As the market leader in large format KBA lived up to its image by redefining the benchmarks for job-changing times, productivity and inline quality control with its new Rapida 145. With an optional speed-enhancement package the 1060 x 1450mm (41.7 x 57in) press has a maximum rated output of 17,000sph in straight and 15,000sph in perfecting mode with a new three-drum perfecting unit. It incorporates many of the unique features offered with the Rapida 106 makeready world champion. The Rapida 145 at Drupa also featured DriveTronic SIS sidelay-free infeed and DriveTronic SPC dedicated drives that support simultaneous plate changes in all the printing units in around 60 seconds.

The Rapida 145’s output is more than 50% higher than that of previous models and rival presses, thanks to a number of simultaneous makeready sequences. For example, its CleanTronic Synchro two-bar system can wash the inking rollers, blankets and impression cylinders simultaneously during plate changing. CleanTronic ReInk is a new, ultra-fast washing system for the inking units. The coating formes in the new coater can be changed simultaneously via DriveTronic SFC, while the relatively lightweight AniSleeve sleeves on the anilox rollers can be changed fast by a single operator. The superior production speed of 17,000sph was made possible by a new HighFlow doctoring chamber for the coater and by a new AirTronic delivery that can be preset from the console and has overhead venturi sheet guides and dynamic sheet braking. The new ErgoTronic console is even easier to use, has integrated QualiTronic colour measurement and control software for quality monitoring and a wall screen with image-in-image function. KBA’s new large-format Rapida presses also incorporate QualiTronic ICR (inline register control) and QualiTronic PDF for comparing the printed image inline with the original PDF file. The energy-saving VariDry^BLUE dryers previously offered only with large-format presses will soon be available in medium format as well.

Rapida 106: makeready world champion now runs at 20,000sph

Having claimed the world speed record in makeready at Drupa 2008, the extensively automated Rapida 106 has upped its game and in conjunction with a speed-enhancement package can now pump out 20,000 sheets per hour straight and 18,000 when perfecting. Its many new features include DriveTronic SFC simultaneous coating-forme change, AniloxLoader automatic screen roller change, an optimised AirTronic delivery for high press speeds and an all-new ErgoTronic console with user-oriented wall screen and a plethora of new modules for online and inline quality measurement and control. The unique new QualiTronic PSO-Match module developed in alliance with System Brunner automates production monitoring to ISO12647-2 standards (see separate press release). As well as perfect printing and coating four-colour products, the twelve-unit version with DriveTronic SPC dedicated plate-cylinder drives on the KBA stand defended its record-breaking reputation with flying job changes in four-colour straight production.