KBA North America, a leading supplier of sheetfed offset and digital presses based in Williston, VT, is announcing that Gibraltar Packaging Group, Inc., a manufacturer and marketer of packaging products based in Hastings, Nebraska, is seeking multiple advantages by purchasing a KBA Rapida 142 56-inch seven-color sheetfed press. The new press will be operational in late January 2006. “We approached KBA because we wanted to improve our quality and production flow as well as increase our capacity and bolster our printing press technology,” says Jeff Oles, Gibraltar’s vice president of manufacturing of the firm’s Hastings, Nebraska plant. “We also wanted to expand our capability to produce seven-color printing with inline coating. We researched other press manufacturers but KBA stood out from the others with its excellent reputation for well-built state-of-the-art printing technology. The press speeds and support capabilities from KBA were another key reason that became instrumental in our decision to choose KBA.” The new KBA Rapida 142 56-inch seven-color sheetfed press being installed at Gibraltar Packaging will include such automation as automatic presets on the feeder and delivery; automatic blanket, plate, and impression cylinder washers; and semi-automatic plate changers. The press is also equipped with KBA’s closed-loop KBA Densitronic S closed loop scanning densitometer and Logotronic management systems. The new cutting-edge Qualitronic II inline sheet inspection system cuts waste and flags imperfect sheets. The Logotronic management will provide Gibraltar with a company-wide data exchange as well as the latest computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) workflow. State-of-the-art press “We will now have a state-of-the-art printing press to market to our existing and new potential customers,” says Mark Lessor, vice president & general manager of Gibraltar’s Nebraska facility. “In addition, the slate of automation featured on the KBA Rapida 142 will allow us to reduce our makeready times, increase run speeds, improve printing quality, and reduce waste.” The new press will be installed at Gibraltar’s Nebraska facility, which has approximately 160 employees and operates out of two facilities with a combined size of 230,000 sq ft. The company manufactures folding and litho laminated products utilizing both large and small format offset presses and a small format flexo press. Its customers primarily represent the food, pharmaceutical, pet products, automotive, and household product markets. To prepare for the new press, Gibraltar Packaging removed an older 64-inch sheetfed press for the installation of the new KBA Rapida 142 press. The firm also relocated other machinery to improve overall workflow and to allow for the space needed to handle the increased output of the new KBA press. Plus, over the past few years, Gibraltar has been updating its postpress equipment and capabilities. Extensive training and support Once the press is installed, Gibraltar Packaging will be receiving another benefit from choosing KBA: extensive training and support. “Training and service are vital to the operation of our business,” says Oles. “KBA will provide weeks of training to show our employees the inner workings and operation of the press. The servicing of equipment is a vital link in maintaining and maximizing the output of equipment. We’ve had nothing but first-rate service from KBA.”