Autor / Author: 	Klaus Schmidt	Nr. / No.:	15-029-R/F
Rückfragen / Enquiries:	Klaus Schmidt	Datum / Date:	30.04.2015
Telefon / Phone:	+49 (0)931 909-4290	E-Mail:	klaus.schmidt@kba.com
Sperrvermerk / Release:		Zeichen / Ref.:	ZM/KSC
Bilder / Photographs:	2	Seiten / Pages:	2

KBA at Converflex 2015 in Milan

Innovative packaging printing with flexo or offset

Koenig & Bauer’s (KBA) two Italian subsidiaries, KBA-Flexotecnica and KBA-Italia, will be manning a stand in hall 2 (stand nr. H11/K20) at Converflex from 19 to 23 May at Fiera Milano, Milan. They will be informing visitors about innovative flexo and offset solutions for high-quality packaging production. In addition, KBA-MetalPrint in Stuttgart will be presenting its KBA-CleanAir industrial air-purification systems, which are particularly of great interest to packaging companies in terms of energy and environmental issues.

As one of the world’s leading press manufacturers, KBA offers an exceptionally broad product spectrum for the growing packaging printing market and is a trendsetter in folding carton printing. Its portfolio includes B2, medium and large-format sheetfed offset presses for board, decorating and coating systems for metal, flexo web presses for flexible packaging, screen and digital presses for glass and plastic hollow containers, digital coding systems for packaging lines and narrow-reel presses for labels. KBA-Flexotecnica in Italy joined the KBA group in December 2013.

EVO flexo presses and Rapida sheetfed presses
A highlight at the KBA stand is a printing unit belonging to the popular EVO XD central-cylinder flexo press. The printing deck, which was newly developed recently, features a high level of automation (e.g. A.I.F. auto impression setting system, A.R.F. automatic register control) and the redesigned bridge dryer leads to substantial energy savings. The unit on show features eight print decks and is engineered for web widths of up to 1,500mm (59in) and speeds of up to 500mpm (1,640fpm). Presses from the EVO XD series have been implemented across Europe and overseas for flexible packaging printing on plastic film, aluminium-coated or layered substrates, paper and carton, and the series is known for its excellent print quality. KBA-Flexotecnica is offering a bus shuttle to its nearby plant in Tavazzano for live press demonstrations on an eight-colour EVO XD twice a day (apart from Saturday afternoon).

KBA is the world leader in printing systems for folding carton with its Rapidas. Over 70% of all Rapida offset presses delivered with up to 19 printing and finishing units are currently going to packaging printers worldwide. Inline finishing with coating, metallic inks, cold foil and other applications are becoming increasingly more significant in folding carton printing. These topics will be at the centre of talks in Milan.

Air-purification systems from KBA-CleanAir have been implemented in a raft of sectors, including the print industry, for removing aerosols, hydrocarbons or odours from exhaust air. These systems are gaining in importance due to growing environmental protection standards.

In recent years the global market for packaging printing systems, which is continuing to grow slightly, was far less effected by investment reluctance than media-orientated print sectors. The Italian print market that has suffered from the country’s recession in past years is also showing signs of recovery. The Gerosa Group with production sites in several countries recently ordered a ten-colour EVO XD High Profit press from KBA-Flexotecnica for its Italian plant Flexocit in Brescia. Moreover, board printer Ruggeri in Modena installed a Rapida 106 with seven printing units, coater, two interim dryers, a further printing unit and triple delivery extension.

Photo 1:
A printing unit belonging to the popular EVO XD series from KBA-Flexotecnica can be seen at Converflex in Milan and press demos will take place at its plant nearby in Tavazzano

Photo 2:
Medium and large-format KBA Rapida presses are the market leaders in sheetfed offset packaging printing