8-Colour Press Broadens Carton Firm's Range

Folding carton manufacturer Color Spectrum Network has ordered a specially-configured Rapida 105 41-inch eight-colour sheetfed press from KBA.

The Rapida 105 will be configured with a coater, dryer, dryer and coater with extended delivery and plastics packaging kit for UV production.

The press is due to be delivered to Color Spectrum Network in June and it will be fully-operational by August.

An in-line corona treatment unit is a new feature on the Rapida 105 that is being used for treating plastic substrates.

The treatment is claimed to stabilise plastic dyne levels (a measure of static electricity) prior to printing for better ink adhesion.

It restores the dyne level that can diminish whilst a plastic substrate is in storage, or being shipped from overseas to the printing plant.

In a Rapida press, the corona module is positioned on a sub-structure before the first printing unit.

The module comprises the corona unit with a 15kV quartz electrode and a dedicated transformer.

The treatment will allow Color Spectrum Network to buy plastic substrates anywhere in the world and be assured of proper dyne levels, said KBA.

Gilbert Bonilla of Color Spectrum Network's president and founder, said: "Our new KBA Rapida 105 will further our offerings as a provider of high-end cartons and rigid boxes, whilst allowing us to reach greater degrees of difficulty in our packaging work.

This UV press will set us apart from the majority of our competitors as a result of the double coater with eight colours." He added: "By installing the corona treatment unit on the front of the press for plastics printing, we will have the first unit in North America with this type of plastics capability, ensuring maximum adhesion of ink to the substrate.

The configuration of the press also differentiates us because only one per cent of printers in the entire world have this type of configuration." Bonilla said the new press purchase was prompted by his firm's continued pursuit of the high-end cosmetic and confectionary markets.

He explained: "Since we are courting these markets, we need to have the ability to utilise metallic inks for their jobs.

Our new KBA Rapida 105 41-inch press gives us that ability.

We want to position ourselves ahead of our customers' sophisticated requirements and be able to take whatever work they design and be able to produce it to the highest quality." Color Spectrum Network does not outsource any of its work, as it prefers to produce high-end work for its customers under its own roof with its quality control procedures in place and its own employees.

In April 2003, the firm opened its Marietta, Georgia (USA) facility with 16 employees and today the firm employs 110 people and will count 130 employees by the end of June due to the new press installation.

At its 145,000 square foot, a new 16,000 square foot pressroom is being assembled with humidity and temperature control to accommodate the new press, as well as providing space for another press.

Bonilla has used his 12-year-experience in corporate banking to effectively manage his capital-intensive business, spending almost US$30 million on new equipment in four years, which will help to reduce his customer's inventory and further perfect his model of 'packaging-on-demand' in seven or less days.

He commented: "We chose KBA after thoroughly researching the press manufacturer market for nine months.

This is our first KBA press and we're very excited to be installing it.

We found that KBA has a large, loyal following of customers, which impressed us and it was the only company able to produce a proven, custom press to our specifications." Established in 1994, Color Spectrum Network handles design, printing, diecutting, embossing, foil stamping, windowing, folding and gluing, as well as automated CD insertion.

The company provides printing and fulfillment services to domestic Fortune 500 companies in industries such as software, hardware, health and beauty, medical and speciality food products.

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