New Press Turns Heat On Sales For Roman Printer

European printing and publishing house Fratelli Spada is expanding capacity at its Rome headquarters with a 64-page KBA Compacta 818 heatset commercial press.

European printing and publishing house Fratelli Spada is expanding capacity at its Rome headquarters with a 64-page KBA Compacta 818 heatset commercial press.

With the new press Fratelli Spada is targeting annual growth rates of 10%-20% over the next three years.

The Compacta 818 has a cylinder circumference of 1,197mm (47"), a web width of 1,905mm (75") and a maximum web speed of 13.3 metres per second (mps) (2,618 feet per minute).

Maximum rated output is 40,000 64pp copies per hour (cph).

To minimise make-ready and streamline logistics the press features automatic plate changers and a KBA Patras A automatic reel-handling system for the Pastomat RC beltless reel stands said KBA.

An important feature is its variable-format V5 folder that supports two or three cut-offs around the cylinder circumference.

That way, claimed KBA, the production of short-grain or long-grain copies enables the Compacta 818 to be used for a much wider range of products.

It will come on stream in Rome in November.

Established in 1957, Fratelli Spada has 300employees and annual sales of around 60m Euros ($73m).

Its current press fleet comprises ten 16pp to 64pp web presses and an equal number of sheetfed presses.

The company's broad service spectrum embraces print, finishing and multimedia production.

Roughly 70% of sales are generated in Italy and 30% abroad, with the focus on central and eastern Europe.

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