NEPA Carton and Carrier Fires Up Recently Installed Six-Color, 57" KBA Rapida 145

DALLAS—July 29, 2015—With the tremendous ongoing explosion of traditional and craft beers, beer cartons have become more than a means of carrying a six-pack. These beer packages are not only artistic, but fun and creative, telling the story of each brand, special seasonal occasion or limited edition, city, and company. To maintain its leadership as a key provider to this market, NEPA Carton and Carrier Company, a one-stop source for beverage carriers and cartons located in Moosic, Pennsylvania, is installing a new six-color, 57" KBA Rapida 145 large-format press to provide additional speed, color control, and turnaround to its nationwide customers.

"Our customers demand that their beer cartons are color consistent from run to run, whether it is three hours apart or three months apart from production," said Mike Collins, president of NEPA. "We didn’t have this capability before but we will have the KBA ErgoTronic color control system on our new KBA Rapida 145. Plus, we’ll enjoy the added benefits of faster speeds and shorter makeready times. We chose the KBA press because it has superior technology as compared to other press manufacturers."

The new automated features unique to the KBA Rapida 145 press include CleanTronic, SIS Sensoric infeed system, DensiTronic Professional, inline QualiTronic Professional, and LogoTronic Professional. NEPA’s new KBA Rapida 145 will be replacing three older KBA presses. Collins noted that Its streamline automation will reduce makeready from hours to only minutes, and will also reduce costly waste.

In an effort to perhaps broaden its market beyond the beverage carrier and carton industry, NEPA is designating its KBA Rapida 145 with a VariDry HL Blue IR/HA/UV drying system. "We’ve never had the ability to print with UV before," added Collins, "but we feel UV could allow us to move into new markets, such as high-end cosmetic packaging. Plus, it will assist us with our leadership role in the beverage carrier and carton industry by providing us with fast throughput due to its drying capabilities and higher quality."

With the installation of its new KBA Rapida 145, NEPA will become one of the first printers in North America to have System Brunner and its Instrument Flight system featured on its new KBA press. This important feature, Collins pointed out, 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 will allow the user to run and control the printed product to G7 standards.

"Our press operators are very excited to start running the new press," explained Collins. "It will make their job so much easier. We’re also eager to start marketing the new Rapida to our customers. We’re inviting them to run their jobs and see all of the new technology in action."

About NEPA Carton
NEPA Carton has served the folding carton industry from its present location since 1984. The firm, which brings to the industry over 50 years of collective experience, employs 35 and is headquartered in a 55,000-square-foot facility and 80,000-square-foot warehouse space. Family-owned and operated, NEPA prides itself in the personal attention given to each and every customer. Much of its work is time sensitive and the firm consistently meets or exceeds its customers' expectations. NEPA’s mandate is to provide superior customer service, quality products and quick turn-around.

About KBA North America
KBA North America is located in Dallas, and is 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.