Product category:
Printing Presses and Machinery (New and Used, Service and Repair)
News Release from: KBA North America | Subject: Rapida 130 8-colour four-over-four perfector press
Edited by the Printingtalk Editorial
Team on 19 July 2007
100-Foot, 8-Colour Perfector With
In-Line Sheeter
Branch-Smith Printing, a family-owned printer of publications, catalogues and books in Fort Worth, Texas (USA) has added a new KBA Rapida 130 eight-colour four-over-four perfector press.
The Rapida 130 is claimed to be the first of its kind in the USA with a reel sheeter The firm installed the 100-foot (30.4 metre) long press as part of a US$9 million expansion
This article was originally published on Printingtalk on 10 Apr 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
KBA Strengthens American Newspaper Press Presence
Citing the press's high degree of technological flexibility, Wisconsin (USA) Bliss Communications has selected a KBA Comet.
Another Press Order Before First Press Installed
The partnership between Media General and KBA North America continues to grow stronger, according to the US arm of the German press manufacturer.
The company posted sales of US$14 million in 2006 and the firm plans to exceed US$20 million in annual sales.
At the same time, the installation of the new Rapida 130 four-over-four perfector press differentiates Branch-Smith from its competitors, said KBA.
The in-line reel sheeter gives Branch-Smith the capability to cut its own stock using less costly rolls of paper stock, rather than more expensive cut stock.
Further reading
KBA's Genius Press's Predictable Colour Quality
Offset and digital printing company The Mallard Press in Lombard, Illinois (USA) is delivering fast, high-quality four-color jobs using its new KBA-Metronic Genius 52 UV press.
World's Biggest Sheetfed Press For Signage Printer
National Posters, the flagship company of National Print Group, in Chattanooga, Tennesee (USA), is preparing for the installation and start-up of what is claimed to be the world's largest press.
Six-Colour Packaging Press Brings Best Out Of CTP
McCowat-Mercer Packaging, a packaging printer in Jackson, Tennessee, has increased its throughput by connecting its CTP system to its new automated KBA Rapida 130a 51" six-colour sheetfed press.
In addition, the fact that it is a large format perfector makes it the fourth such KBA installation in North America, of which there are only 35 in the world.
The firm's expansion also included new large-format pre-press and bindery equipment.
Being a publication, catalogue and book printer requires Branch-Smith to have a fast, highly-automated bindery, added KBA.
The expansion allowed the firm to double the size of its bindery, adding three new folders, an additional Muller Martini saddle-stitcher and binder and a 61-inch cutter.
Today the bindery comprises two perfect binders, two saddle-stitchers and seven folders, along with automatic cutting machines and packaging systems.
In the pre-press area, Branch-Smith installed a new Kodak Magnus VLF platesetter.
The company has also expanded its sales force to handle the influx of new business.
Daniel Hanson, vice president and general manager of Branch-Smith, commented: "We are thrilled with the press.
Everything about it, its automation and engineering, is designed to run extremely well.
The print quality is exceptional.
We've found that the large format press holds ink and water balance better than any press we've ever owned.
This had to be proven to me because we've only had one other press manufacturer for 24 years.
This is our first KBA machine and we are producing better quality than ever before." He added: "The large format press size was important to us.
It gives us the ability to print a high-end sheetfed product but due to the size we can run twice as many signature pages per sheet.
Now we can print 32 pages instead of 16." Hanson described the new press as a robust machine that was quickly and efficiently installed by KBA allowing Branch-Smith to start production soon after installation.
Today, the firm is giving non-stop customer press tours and gaining new work from existing and new customers.
Within a few weeks of installation, Branch-Smith had the press running 70 per cent to 75 per cent of capacity, added KBA.
Branch-Smith Printing is a fourth-generation family-owned business founded in 1910.
The company provides full-service printing for corporate and publication customers and specialises in bound materials, such as magazines, directories, catalogues and books.
In 2002, Branch-Smith Printing was awarded the 2002 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for performance excellence and quality achievement in the small business category.
• KBA North America: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Printingtalk email newsletter
• Printingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
