In January 2012 Norwegian packaging printer Trondhjems Eskefabrikk threw the switch on a highly automated six-colour KBA Rapida 106 in double coater configuration. It joins a Rapida 105 coater press installed in 2007 and has been earmarked for sophisticated UV production. The investment continues a partnership with KBA which goes back to the early 1970s.

Trondhjems Eskefabrikk was founded by Thorvald Olsen in 1934. Initially production was concentrated on folders for office purposes and protective wrappings for textiles. After three relocations and several upgrades, especially under the management of Henry Olav and Ellen Brekke Olsen in the 1960s, Trondhjems Eske & Mappefabrikk grew quickly and gradually shifted its focus to packaging printing. The first steps were taken with a flexo press, and then from 1970 with a single-colour offset press from Planeta. The company has remained true to this market segment ever since and is now the branch leader in Norway.

Market leader with high efficiency
In 1987, the company moved to 5,500m² (59,200ft²) premises on an industrial estate in Tiller. Brothers Tore and Lars Brekke Olsen have since built up a modern, full-service provider using the latest pre-press, print and conversion technologies to serve a host of prominent packaging customers.

Today around 85 per cent of Trondhjems Eskefabrikk's output is for the food industry. Whether for fish, meats or other food products - quality packaging from Tiller is in constant demand. The 24 employees generated sales worth €12 million ($15.9m) in 2011. This high per capita turnover is testimony to the company's efficiency. Ten per cent of production is exported to Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Russia and the Baltic states.

Continuity is important
Tore Brekke Olsen sees the trustful cooperation with KBA as a strong basis for successful development: “In the same way that our parents forged a long-term relationship with Planeta, my brother and I believe in continuity and our success with the modern Rapida presses from KBA. We have faith in the innovative technology and are likewise convinced by KBA as a company. Customer service takes pride of place and has been exemplary through all our projects to date. That applies equally to press commissioning, training, maintenance and spare parts.”

Proven solutions decisively improved
When it comes to daily business, Tore Brekke Olsen prefers proven solutions: “Already in the Planeta years, presses from Radebeul stood for quality, reliability and substrate flexibility. And nothing has changed in that respect through to the present day. The first six-colour Rapida 105 installed in 1998 lent an enormous boost to our productivity; it replaced a two-colour and two five-colour presses. The modern Rapidas are much faster still, both in production and during job changeovers. Ease of operation has also reached a new level. We can today print at 18,000 sheets per hour, our makeready time is minimal thanks to the automatic plate changers, and we handle substrates from 200 to 800gsm. The average run length lies between 40,000 and 50,000 copies, but we can print efficiently for both long and short runs.”

Double coating for the first time
Trondhjems Eskefabrikk has installed four Rapidas of the 105 and 106 series over the years: in 1998, 2004, 2007 and 2012. One aspect common to all these presses is that they are all six-colour configurations with inline coating and CX board-handling capabilities. Olsen says: “This standard configuration simply matches our production conditions best. In response to wishes expressed by several major customers, however, the new Rapida 106 is the first to feature two coaters plus interdeck and end-of-press dryers. This enables us to use both conventional and UV coatings, and offer a variety of special effects for more luxurious packaging. Being a hybrid press, the single-coater Rapida 105 we bought in 2004 already offered us many such refined finishing options.”

To stay abreast of customer wishes, Tore Brekke Olsen swears by continuous modernisation: “In 2013 we'll be replacing a cutter which was originally purchased in 2001. All our equipment will then be from 2007 or later. The 2007 Rapida 105 was recently treated to a thorough makeover and has been upgraded to the performance level of the new Rapida 106. We can thus count on a powerful duo.”

Optimised quality management
But Tore Brekke Olsen is impressed by more than just the productivity of his new Rapida 106: “The new press also offers maximum efficiency with regard to ease of operation and quality assurance. It incorporates all but a few of the automation components currently available. The console is a very convenient workplace for the operator. And ErgoTronic ACR, QualiTronic colour control, DensiTronic and LogoTronic Professional are guarantees for perfect production processes.”

Website: www.eskefabrikken.com