drupa 2012 : Offsetting Digital’s Advance

KBA’s 37,700-square-foot stand also featured several new presses, including the 57˝ Rapida 145 running at speeds to 17,000 sph (15,000 sph perfecting). The six-color with coater drupa model featured DriveTronic SIS sidelay-free infeed; DriveTronic SPC dedicated drives that support simultaneous plate changes in 60 seconds; the CleanTronic Synchro system that simultaneously washes inking rollers, blankets and impression cylinders during plate changing; and several other quick-makeready enhancements. The Rapida 145 is targeted toward commercial, book, Internet and package printers.

KBA’s 41˝ Rapida 106 also received a productivity boost with maximum speeds to 20,000 sph in straight mode (18,000 sph perfecting). New features include DriveTronic SFC simultaneous coating form change, AniloxLoader automatic screen roller change, an optimized AirTronic delivery, and the new ErgoTronic console with a wall screen and new quality control modules.

Also, the new Rapida 76 is capable of speeds to 18,000 sph (15,000 sph perfecting); the Genius 52 UV is now available with optional envelope feeder and split-color printing capability; and the new Varius 80 waterless UV offset rollfed press is suited for flexible packaging.

“While overall attendance from North American printers was below the previous drupa figures, we were busy all day long and even through dinner with decision makers looking to continue their investment in new KBA technology,” reported Mark Hischar, president and CEO of KBA North America. “KBA exhibited nine operating presses, each with breakthrough technology.”

Komori showcased its “Offset OnDemand” concept with two sheetfed presses: an eight-color Lithrone G40P perfector and a five-color Lithrone S29. They featured KHS-AI integrated control systems for high-speed print startup and the ability to get to color within 20 sheets, coupled with the fast drying delivered by the H-UV curing system that enables immediate postpress processing of quick-turnaround jobs.

In-Line Sheet Inspection

The Lithrone G40P was also equipped with Komori’s Asynchronous Automatic Plate changing (A-APC) system, which changes all plates in only 75 seconds, and the In-line Print Quality Assessment System (PQA-S). PQA-S not only inspects print quality on the front and back sides of the sheets simultaneously, it also enables in-line density control by scanning the color bar. Three short-run, 200-sheet jobs were set up as press demonstrations, and jobs coming off-press were produced as booklets on Standard Horizon finishing equipment in just eight minutes.