KBA Presses Help Seize Large Format Print Market

All Out, an Illinois (USA) commercial printer, has seized the large format market and is about to install a Rapida 142 56-inch five-colour press from KBA North America.

The new press, which will have six-colour units, plus interdeck UV capabilities, will be installed in All Out's newly-expanded 37,000 square foot facility in December.

Currently, All Out is running its existing KBA press 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week to provide its nationwide customers with all types of commercial, packaging and point-of-purchase work.

By having the KBA large format press, All Out will be able to provide its customers with more options than ever before.

J B Capuano, All Out's president, said: "We have experienced significant growth since the installation of our first KBA press.

We need a second press to keep up with demand.

We would also like to branch out in to new market segments by using different substrates, such as plastics and foils, so we will equip the new press with interdeck UV capabilities.

Our plan is to move in to the specialty print market, printing on foil stocks, styrenes, biodegradable plastics and other materials.

This will allow our sales force to meet just about any print and finishing need our customers may have." He added: "We have formed a tremendous partnership with KBA.

We're producing fantastic quality on our Rapida 142 and we're growing tremendously.

KBA's large format press is the best offered in the industry and by installing it, we'll be able to grow even more." To prepare to produce specialty work, such as lenticular, plastic cards, and other substrates, All Out has sent its employees to seminars at KBA US headquarters in Vermont.

For example, All Out's employees learned techniques for working with lenticular.

KBA North America said that lenticular printing is a technique that involves printing an image on the back side of lenticular plastic, allowing the eye to simultaneously view alternating sections of multiple images to give the impression of 3D, flip, or motion.

Capuano added: "We found KBA's seminars to be extremely educational and informative.

It was a great learning experience and we're glad we took advantage of it." Other preparations for the new press are being made.

New software upgrades are being made to accommodate the press's lenticular production capability.

Twelve thousand square feet of space is being added on the facility for the new press and the firm will be hiring more production employees to take on the additional work derived from the Rapida 142, as well as sales people.

Before the press is installed, All Out.'s management team will be traveling to KBA's headquarters in Germany for a factory tour.

In mid-September, Capuano will be joined by Bob Pawlicki, All Out's sales manager and marketing manager Dan Kotas to check on the press production.

In November, Capuano will return to KBA's headquarters with Gordon Gizowski, his vice president of operations, and Craig Rehr, plant manager, to sign-off the press before it is shipped to the United States.

All Out is also in the midst of becoming certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and earning the Chain of Custody certification.

Capuano said: "Achieving FSC certification will demonstrate our dedication to sustaining the environment.

It will also give our customers a way to honour their own commitments to the environment by specifying FSC certified paper." All Out was formed by a core group of employees led by J B Capuano in 2005.

As a group, it is claimed to have 100 years of experience in the 40-inch sheetfed market.

It has served a diverse range of customers, including direct manufacturers, advertising agencies, designers and corporate clientele.

Capuano explained: "Since the 40-inch market has become so commoditised and saturated, we wanted to carve out a unique niche.

We are now much more competitive in our existing 40-inch market and are now in to the large format markets as well.

Buying the new 56-inch KBA press with UV will differentiate us even further and give our sales people even more to offer their customers.

This press also gives our customers total freedom to achieve their vision without being limited by space restraints.".

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