(September 28, 2008) KBA North America, a global press manufacturer based in Williston, Vermont, announces that UNIMAC Graphics, a sheetfed and web printer based in Carlstadt, New Jersey, purchased a new fully automated KBA Rapida 106 41-inch six-color press with UV capability, perfecting after the second unit, board kit, and extended delivery. The press is slated to be shipped to UNIMAC in October 2008.

“We’ve experienced continued growth, due in part to our KBA web and sheetfed presses,” says George Amann, president and CEO of UNIMAC Graphics. “The new Rapida 106 will give us minimum makeready times, maximum print quality, and unparalleled high-speed performance–all of which will keep UNIMAC Graphics a competitive, cost-effective manufacturer.”

The newly unveiled KBA Rapida 106 features an 18,000 sph output, ultrafast makeready times, and cutting-edge automation. The press provides a wide choice of automation options, including the KBA DriveTronic dedicated drives and simultaneous plate mounting system, as well as the DriveTronic feeder, with its presetting capabilities. The press also features the GATF InterTech award–winning sidelay-free infeed, DriveTronic SIS. The substrate range runs from lightweight papers to heavy board, from plastic films to corrugated—all without adjusting any grippers.

Partnering with KBA’s new solutions provider

UNIMAC also chose to partner with KBA’s new independent consulting company known as KBA Complete. This firm was formed jointly with the Hiflex Group as a stand-alone solutions provider to create integral work flows that provide JDF connectivity. UNIMAC sought out KBA Complete to help the firm deliver ultra-high-level manufacturing efficiency and automation across prepress, press, and postpress systems.

When UNIMAC decided to increase its capacity, it looked no further than its longtime partner. KBA has been supplying UNIMAC with presses for nearly a decade. In 1999, UNIMAC installed a KBA Rapida 162a 64-inch six-color sheetfed perfector press. Four years later, the firm added a KBA Compacta 215 16-page heatset web offset press, the first web of its kind to be installed in the U.S. The web press is used to produce book covers, direct mail, posters, publications, and pharmaceutical materials. Then in 2005, only two years later, UNIMAC added a KBA Rapida 142 56-inch eight-color perfector with inline interdeck UV coating capabilities.

“We’re always on the cutting edge,” says Amann. “We are a solutions-based company that partners with customers to understand their needs, globally, and then provides solutions to help them reduce their printing costs while producing the highest-quality printed materials for them.”

UNIMAC Graphics is also developing its own printing processes to help its customers as well as working with different groups to become more environmentally sensitive. Last year, the firm unveiled its new signature coating process called Unikote, which both seals and protects the final printed piece as well as adding vibrancy to the ink colors. The new process is being used with glow-in-the-dark, scratch-off, and glitter UV projects. Unikote is available in three finishes: gloss, satin, and matte in either a UV coating or an aqueous coating.

Maintaining its green initiative

To continue its on-going green initiative, UNIMAC became a Triple Chain of Custody Certified green printer. UNIMAC Graphics has now obtained (SFI Chain of Custody) Sustainable Forestry Initiative and (PEFC Chain of Custody) Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification through SGS an accredited sustainable forestry certifier.  UNIMAC Graphics was already certified as a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain-of-Custody company by SmartWood in January 2007. These three organizations are devoted to monitoring and encouraging the responsible management of the forests around the world. As a certified Chain-of–Custody (CoC) company UNIMAC Graphics is permitted to process CoC certified papers from all of three certifying bodies, FSC, SFI, PEFC. These initiatives assure that a finished wood based product in the marketplace has been handled only by CoC-certified companies. Through Chain-of-Custody documentation, these papers can be tracked backward through the entire supply-chain, from harvesting, paper manufacturing, printing, shipping and distribution. As part of its environmental effort, UNIMAC has planted 3,500 trees through American Forests Global ReLeaf program to offset its carbon emissions footprint. The firm is also ISO 9001 quality certified.

UNIMAC Graphics is headquartered in a 146,000-square-foot facility in Carlstadt, New Jersey, where it provides web, sheetfed and digital printing services with an employee workforce of 225. The firm currently generates $63 million in annual sales.