Long Perfectors Cuts Each Make-Ready By 15 Minutes

Two long Rapida 105 perfecting presses with Drivetronic SPC direct drive technology from KBA are producing up to 16.7 million sheets at Strokirk Land-stroms in Lidkoping (Sweden).

KBA said that when another printing press manufacturer claimed that its direct drive technology for simultaneous printing plate changing was a world first early in 2007, the first long KBA Rapida 105 with similar equipment had already been in operation for four months at Strokirk Landstroms.

Strokirk Landstroms' 10-colour unit Rapida 105 with perfecting for 5-over-5 printing and Drivetronic SPC plate cylinder direct drive was installed in August 2006.

That was followed last December by a further eight-unit Rapida 105 for 4-over-4 printing, also with the Drivetronic SPC.

Up to the start of September the medium-format presses had produced 16.7 million and 13.5 million sheets, respectively, mainly in perfecting format.

KBA said that as is normal in commercial web printing the printing substrates used on the two Rapidas have a maximum weight of 250gsm.

Most of the paper used does not exceed 130gsm but, nevertheless, both presses are set 450mm higher to reduce the amount of pile changing.

The non-stop roller system in the delivery units, which can be lowered, allows for claimed easy pile changing, even for high runs in almost non-stop production.

The two Rapida 105 units have a joint delivery platform with the Densitronic S measuring and regulating system for parallel use in the middle.

The company added that to minimise order changing times wherever possible, both Rapida 105s are equipped with no-sidelay SIS systems, washing systems, ACR control (video register) and a cooling unit from Technotrans (Beta c) with connectivity to the central cooling system.

Since the daily printing output is high and the printroom low, an ink temperature control unit is used to guarantee constant conditions.

added KBA.

An air cleaning system in the delivery unit and roller coatings for low-alcohol printing ensure that the operator has a comfortable working environment and contribute to protecting the environment and resources.

The two Rapida systems are connected in a network via Logotronic Professional to the company's MIS/MRP and the pre-press stage.

The printers are able to use the managment information system screens to display all order-specific data, from sales, pre-press, printing and finishing through to the mailroom, for a full overview of the complete process directly from the press console.

KBA commented that the finishing department at Strokirk Landstroms is also highly automated.

Three new steel folders, gathering tables and a Polar 137 XT Autotrim cutting unit with automatic printing substrate preparation and feed unit are used.

There is only minimum storage space, so the paper is supplied just-in-time and when finished the printed products are immediately dispatched to the customer, or in the form of part deliveries to companies responsible for distribution to customers.

With a digitally integrated workflow, capacity and quality assurance and control measures, Strokirk Landstroms objective is to be counted amongst the printing firms in Europe with the best customer orientation, said KBA.

The two Rapida 105 presses contribute to achieving that aim.

Strokirk Landstroms generates annual sales of SKR90 million (EUR10 million) with a workforce of 60 people.

It is a commercial web printing firm that produces brochures and catalogues for international companies in the mail order business, the automotive industry and other sectors.

It also produces books in small piece numbers.

Approximately 2,000 orders are processed each year, in different languages, of which there are often 10, or more, not included.

The company processes 3,500 tons of paper through the factory each year, with up to 700,000 sheets processed daily.

Goran Gustafsson, managing director of Strokirk Landstrom, commented: "Compared to the technology used previously, which was by no means obsolete, the make-ready times associated with changing jobs have been cut by around 15 minutes per order with the two Rapida 105s.

In summer we run production with two shifts and in winter with three.

On average we process eight to 10 orders on each of the two Rapidas each day, sometimes 15." He explained: "For us this means that we have up to two hours of production time available each day on the presses for additional jobs.

The presses are often run at maximum capacity of 18,000 sheets per hour in straight printing, and at up to 15,000 sheets per hour in 4-over-4 coloured perfecting.

These high production speeds are also the main reason why we chose KBA printing technology in the first place.".

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