First it was the visitors to Ipex who attended the live press demos, then it was the new owner, Egesan Basim in the Turkish port of Izmir: their unanimous verdict is that the five-colour Rapida 105 coater press with extended delivery, board-printing capability, automatic plate changers, nonstop delivery and DensiTronic colour control puts on a stunning performance. The press shipped to Izmir in mid-June and initially printed commercials, but is now increasingly being used for packaging.

Two Rapidas in quick succession
Egesan Basim was started up in 1985 by Muzaffer Bugdayci, and the Rapida 105, the contract for which was negotiated at Ipex in May with the support of KBA agency Dereli Graphic, was its first KBA press following eight presses from another German vendor. It is now no longer Egesan's sole Rapida: at the end of September an eight-colour Rapida 105 with coater rolled into action at subsidiary Egem Ambalaj in Manisa, where it joined two older, non-KBA presses.

Successful family enterprise
This highly successful family enterprise now has four fast-growing print operations with several hundred employees: Egesan Basim and Egesan Form in Izmir, Egem Ambalaj and ege ofset in Manisa. Along with what are known in the trade as boutique products (catalogues and promotional literature for the hotel and tourist industry) Egesan's extensive portfolio includes business forms, folding cartons, packaging, displays and labels. Ege ofset prints instruction manuals and brochures for international manufacturers of household goods.

Spontaneous switch to KBA
Cihan Bugdayci, who is the son of the founder and now heads Egesan, says: "It may come as a surprise to some people that we suddenly switched from our previous vendor to KBA for our plants in Izmir and Manisa. Prior to Ipex we had of course already approached the various manufacturers and discussed the project with their representatives. In fact we had originally planned to stay with the same vendors at both locations, and to close the deals at Ipex. But in Birmingham KBA and Dereli Graphic were the only ones who took the trouble to provide the support and advice we expected from a vendor. We quickly became accustomed to this new level of service and in addition to the five-colour press exhibited decided on the spur of the moment to sign up for an eight-colour press of the same type. Alongside the Rapidas' technical features, optional extras and RoI, what played a key role for us was the personal aspect. It's much easier if there is trust and satisfaction all the way down the line, on both sides."

Punctual start-up
Having initiated the project Egesan management was equally delighted with the punctual delivery and commissioning of the Rapidas, and with the professional training provided for the press crews. Cihan Bugdayci says: "Both Rapida 105 press lines arrived on schedule and played their technological aces right from the start. The five-colour coater press with DensiTronic colour control allows us to achieve an even better quality and offer the coating effects which nowadays are increasingly in demand. It halved makeready times and is hugely productive. This is a crucial factor, since our job structure comprises a lot of short to medium runs. The eight-colour coater press was a must. It is primarily used to print cigarette packs, because a new law stipulates that the images on the packs must be in four colours. It made an excellent start. We have tremendous confidence in KBA technology."

Mutual trust is key
He adds: "We are delighted that in KBA and Dereli Graphic we have found new partners who will provide both technical and business support in the future. The double investment was a major move for us. But with our father's know-how and extensive business contacts we are confident that we shall avoid the financial pitfalls and continue our successful strategy as a family enterprise."