El Paso Paper Box Invests in a KBA Rapida 106 Sheetfed Perfector Press

Standing in front of the KBA Rapida 106 are (from the left) Manny Corral, printing supervisor; Paul Malooly, president and CEO; and Carlos Hernandez, pressman.

DALLAS — January 18, 2017 — With the flick of a switch, El Paso Paper Box put into operation its newest strategic investment — a new seven-color, 41" KBA Rapida 106 full inline UV coating sheetfed perfector press — part of a $7 million capital expenditure at its 105,000 sq ft facility in the far southwestern region of Texas. The new KBA Rapida 106 press was delivered in late summer and became fully operational in early October 2016.

“This new KBA Rapida 106 seven-color perfector press will be our firm’s workhorse,” says Paul Malooly, El Paso Paper Box President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are switching all of our high-end packaging work from a variety of well-known consumer product customers across North America and the Caribbean to this new press because it brings so many clear advantages in terms of quality, efficiency, and productivity.”

The El Paso Paper Box management team is proud of its choice after investigating three sheetfed press manufacturers including KBA. The team selected the new KBA Rapida press for the unique capabilities that it brings to their customers and its pressroom. These include a full inline UV system, KBA’s unique QualiTronic color control system, a fully automatic plate changing system, higher press speeds, and perfecting.

“Technology has become an even greater focus on today’s modern printing presses to maximize potential productivity and we’re relying a lot more on our presses for higher quality, faster turnaround, and less waste,” says Manny Corral, El Paso’s printing supervisor.

Noting that the full inline UV system is “a substantial improvement over our old off-line system,” the new capability will provide EPPB with the ability to support its customers with faster turnaround, shorter-run packaging allowing for seasonal changes and provide additional high-end coating applications that it previously could not offer.

To provide the utmost highest quality, which EPPB characterizes as paramount to its customers, the new KBA Rapida offers a host of proven quality control systems. The KBA QualiTronic ColorControl inline color measuring system uses an inter-deck camera system integrated directly into the press. The control strips can be positioned either at the front or in the center of the sheet. This type of unique color quality control ensures that EPPB’s package printing maintains color integrity on its customer’s logo and product.

“The fully-automatic plate changing system on the new KBA Rapida 106 press provides lightning fast plate changes,” says Corral, as opposed to 15 to 30 minute makereadies on the current non-KBA presses. “We’re seeing huge productivity gains with the new KBA,” he adds.

Since KBA has long history of making high quality perfecting presses, EPPB will be able to offer a variety of solutions such as six-over-one positions to its customers. For example, its food customers require packaging in which a tempting coupon can be printed inside the box all in one run on the press. With the new KBA Rapida press, EPPB can provide that capability at a nominal cost in one day, whereas in the past that capability cost more and required two makereadies and two days to complete a perfecting job.

No other press manufacturer can match the high speeds attained on the KBA Rapida 106. With the newly-acquired speed and technology, EPPB expects a significant increase in productivity with its KBA Rapida 106.

“This KBA press purchase is a strategic investment for our company because it differentiates us from our competitors by having the newest, and greatest, sheetfed press in the Southwest with a host of prime features that benefits both our customers and ourselves,” says John R. Dowd, Executive Vice President of El Paso Paper Box.

In its gleaming new 105,000 sq ft plant surrounded by 6.5 acres of land for additional growth, El Paso Paper Box installed its new KBA Rapida 106 alongside a newly-purchased gluer with upcoming plans to invest in a new sheeter and diecutter to support the new KBA.

“We believe that this KBA press investment indicates to our customers and our employees that we’re solidly focusing on fast-moving events in consumer trends, helping our customers better market their products, as well as our determined dedication to the printing and packaging industry,” says Dowd.

About El Paso Paper Box (EPPB)
El Paso Paper Box (EPPB) has been a designer and manufacturer of custom paperboard folding cartons for decades. It serves the electronic/electrical, automotive, consumer goods, beauty, food/confectionary, medical/healthcare, bakery/supermarkets, building trades, and paper goods/office supply markets. With a focus on the end-user’s shopping and buying experience, the firm brings a deeper level of service to its customers’ folding carton packaging needs. The retail package is extremely important in the process of getting the product to the consumer safely and appealing to the customer at their point of decision-making. EPPB has a deep understanding in areas from package usability to shelf appeal, and this new press will help provision them for continued success in the future.

Source: KBA.