270-Tonne Press Starts KBA's Huge Drupa Build-Up

KBA has entered the final countdown of its build-up to Drupa 2004 in May with the construction of the first subassemblies for its 270-tonne Compacta 217 commercial press that it will be showing in hal

KBA has entered the final countdown of its build-up to Drupa 2004 in May with the construction of the first subassemblies for its 270-tonne Compacta 217 commercial press that it will be showing in hall 16.

A grand total of 13 trucks, among them massive wide-load trailers and low-loaders, were needed to convey the 70,000 copies per hour (cph) 16pp press to Dusseldorf from KBA's factory in Trennfeld near Wurzburg.

Its engineers have just four days to offload and place the entire press line, which measures 50 metres (164') long by 13 metres (43') wide, plus a 13 metre x 3.4m (11') Vits Rotoline hot-air dryer.

Since the press must be ready to print by the beginning May, erection and commissioning must be completed in the record time of three weeks.

To meet this deadline KBA has assigned a 21-strong team of fitters and engineers who will be supported by staff from Muller Martini, Vits and other alliance partners.

The biggest exhibit on the stand, the Compacta 217, will be followed by 10 sheetfed and DI offset presses ranging from a 46 Karat SRA3 and Genius 52 B3 press to a new-generation Rapida 105 B1 press and a Rapida 205 SLF printing unit.

Seven sheetfed presses will be demonstrated by KBA on its 3,500 square metre (37,700 square foot) stand, two by Marks-3zet in hall 3 and one, a Genius 52 UV press, by KBA's new subsidiary, Metronic, in hall 11.

Prior to opening day hundreds of metres of cables must be laid and banks of computers, monitors, lamps, video and PA systems installed in preparation for the press and printshop networking demonstrations.

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