KBA Clients Save Using System Brunner's Software with KBA's QualiTronic System
From the left: John Frey, pressman, Dee Paper Box; Shawn Parks, print manager, Dee Paper box; Daniel Würgler, CEO of System Brunner; and Terry Kochig, pressman, Dee Paper Box, hold a test sheet printed on Dee's new KBA Rapida 145 press, including its KBA inline QualiTronic Color Control capability with the full-scale version of System Brunner’s Instrument Flight inking unit control software.
DALLAS—February 2, 2016—A growing trend among KBA sheetfed offset printers who are seeking to even further improve their color control is the installation of System Brunner’s Instrument Flight print quality measuring systems with KBA in-line QualiTronic Color Control capability.
“This technology has earned worldwide acceptance and notoriety as the leading in-line color control strategy on the market,” said Chris Travis, director of technology at KBA. “With the combination of KBA and System Brunner, the KBA QualiTronic Instrument Flight system emphasizes color balance and gray balance, taking into account more than 30 process variables. It has been expanded to include new balance control apps and new global standards. The unique five-star appraisal system notifies the press operator of the print quality achieved under the selected standard and can ensure compliance with different standard specifications every day. We’re pleased that so many of our customers have chosen to add it to their press installations and we’re anticipating more of these installations in the future.”
Many printing companies calibrate their presses to G7 every one to two years, which includes gray balance and tonality. But in daily production, printers are not able to control color according to these metrics and are only able to control solid densities. Variations in the process with ink, paper, blankets, water, etc. leads to deviations in gray balance and tonality when only controlling the solid ink density (SID), missing compliance with G7 requirements.
System Brunner’s Instrument Flight controls color in print production including gray balance, tonality, solid CIELAB/densities, TVI and more. Therefore this technology holds the printing production in the G7 target range.
One of Instrument Flight’s most unique features with Balance Navigator functionality allows it to fine-tune gray balance and tonality on the fly to keep the G7 targets or adjust the color according to customer needs.
Combining KBA’s in-line QualiTronic Color Control capability with the full-scale version of System Brunner’s Instrument Flight inking unit control software creates a closed-loop system for measuring and controlling color during impression. It even assesses the visual appearance of every printed sheet, thus promoting stable, uniform production from one day to the next and from one press to another.
Since its introduction, KBA customers have praised the KBA QualiTronic Color Control with Instrument Flight for its additional options for expanding process automation to support high-quality color fidelity. This has provided them with a positive impact on production waste, economy, and the loyalty of their quality-focused customers. The system allows them to raise their print quality and color consistency to new levels never before reached previously, as well as achieving a significant reduction in start-up waste.
One such customer is Dee Paper Box Company, a leading folding carton design, printing and manufacturing firm located in Chester, Pennsylvania, which installed a new seven-color, 57˝ KBA Rapida 145 double-coater UV press with a host of unique automated KBA technology earlier this year. Dee Paper’s press combines its KBA in-line QualiTronic Color Control capability with the full-scale version of System Brunner’s Instrument Flight inking unit control software.
Another KBA customer, NEPA Carton and Carrier Company, a one stop source for beverage carriers and cartons located in Moosic, Pennsylvania, has been successfully operating its new six-color, 57˝ KBA Rapida 145 large-format press for nearly a year providing the firm with additional speed, color control and turnaround to its nationwide customers. This important feature, says Mike Collins, NEPA president, allows the press to be controlled via grey balance with the QCC option from KBA. It also is the only system on the market which allows a printer to change and select the grey balance that they prefer on press and control. This allows NEPA to run and control its printed product to G7 standards.
About KBA North America
KBA North America is located in Dallas, Texas and a member of the KBA Group. Established almost 200 years ago in Wuerzburg, Germany, Koenig & Bauer AG (KBA) is the oldest and second largest press manufacturer worldwide. KBA's banner, 'People & Print', reflects its dual focus as a leading innovator for print entrepreneurs. The group's product range is the broadest in the industry; its portfolio includes sheetfed offset presses in all format classes, commercial and newspaper web presses, inkjet systems and presses, flexographic presses, special presses for banknotes, securities, metal-decorating, smart cards, glass and plastic decorating.
Source: KBA North America.
