Nine Presses And JDF Networking At Drupa For KBA

Working in 12-hour shifts, KBA has erected and commissioned nine sheetfed presses from SRA3 to size 6 and 7 Rapidas, Cortina 6/2 and Commander CT newspaper presses in the build-up to Drupa.

KBA's 3,400 square metre (126,600 square foot) stand in hall 16 at the Messe Dusseldorf has seen initial print tests on the company's litho presses.

Whilst the two web presses on the stand will not be running with paper, they will demonstrate a range of automation features.

Meanwhile, staff at KBA Complete are also installing JDF-enabled networking capabilities for the sheetfed presses, Kodak pre-press, Perfecta guillotines, MBO folding machine and Hiflex MIS system.

Test runs have commenced on that equipment and demonstrations will be staged with professional presenters.

KBA said that whilst cost considerations and a lack of space mean that there will be no demonstrations of commercial or newspaper presses, the company has installed 53 sheetfed printing and coating units and the two compact four-high towers (with a total weight of around 650 tonnes) in record time.

Even without an operational web press, KBA added that it will process 400 tonnes of paper, board and film and approximately 5,000 square metres of plates, printing jobs.

And the company believes it will probably be the only big press manufacturer at Drupa whose exhibits dispense entirely with alcohol and fount solution.

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