KBA's Production Open House in Würzburg, Germany, Was a Resounding Success
Attractions not just for experts: Thanks to new machining centers, large part manufacturing at KBA Würzburg is highly efficient and accurate.
WÜRZBURG, Germany—June 16, 2015—Koenig & Bauer AG (KBA) invited representatives from the world of politics, science, business and the media, as well as active and former employees to two production open days at its main plant based here, on June 12 and 13. This came just some two years before the celebrations for the company’s 200th jubilee in September 2017.
Around 50 prominent guests and almost 1,000 KBA staff and their families, were amazed by how—concealed behind the site’s walls—the cradle of press engineering has been fundamentally modernized as part of the realignment in place since 2014 (especially as the media has often reported negatively on print and the press engineering industry recently).
KBA boss Claus Bolza-Schünemann pledged his commitment to print and to the almost 200-year-old press manufacturing site in Würzburg, in front of numerous guests from the world of politics, science and the industry on the first day.
As KBA CEO and President Claus Bolza-Schünemann made clear on Friday when talking about the development of the company to external guests, the management board believes in the solid future of print in all its diversity despite the necessary company realignment due to media shifts. Along with setbacks for traditional print media, he mentioned that there are also growing print markets. These range from all kinds of packaging and different kinds of digitally produced prints to industrial printing of decoration and laminates.
Apprentices at Koenig & Bauer’s vocational school showed visitors 3-D printing, which is also promising for machine engineers.
Well-positioned for growing print markets
The KBA group has a very broad portfolio and is well-placed in the growing packaging and industrial print markets. KBA continues to rely on its extensive expertise in tailor-made press technology for various markets and substrates ranging from paper to board and metal, corrugated, film and glass. With an eye on the future in recent years, KBA has invested a figure in the double-digit millions in its main facility in Würzburg, in parallel to personnel adjustments.
On a hot Saturday, the plant’s fire department also contributed to a successful open house with over 1,000 visitors.
New halls for manufacturing and the foundry, as well as a new design center were erected. In 2014 and in recent months, highly efficient machines for precision machining large parts were installed and the reorganization of production and assembly islands—including logistics—took place which entailed a raft of relocations. The visiting external experts and KBA staff who hadn’t seen the plant from the inside for a long time were impressed by the facility’s technical equipment and the new ergonomic work spaces for assembly.
Always thrilling: Casting in the huge foundry that was renovated in 2014 for €14m at the press manufacturer’s plant in Würzburg.
Precision manufacturing also for other machinery engineers
Along with components for KBA presses, the specialists in Würzburg also cast and manufacture precision parts for prominent external mechanical engineering and plant manufacturers. The new business unit, KBA-Industrial Solutions, aims to extend its order manufacturing services to other companies. As well as producing various components made of casting, steel or metal, this KBA company is also able to offer assembly, engineering and logistic services. It is thus an interesting partner for other machine manufacturers that are looking to outsource or are experiencing capacity shortages.
Accordingly, in addition to Würzburg, KBA has also invested strongly in its plant in Radebeul, including latest surface coating technology for cylinders and rotating parts.
