Over the past six years the yearly KBA road show throughout China has become somewhat of a tradition. Since 2007 KBA has visited numerous cities all over the country informing Chinese printers of the latest technological trends in sheetfed offset every October and interest grows from year to year. With over 800 participants at six locations in China and one in Taiwan, the KBA road show is one of the printing industry's most visited events.

At the meetings in Dongguan and Xiamen KBA informed packaging printers, who are an important target group, of the relevant packaging news from Drupa 2012. Main topics included the new large-format Rapida 145, cold-foil finishing, workflow issues and inkjet integration into sheetfed offset printing as well as energy-saving dryer technology. Print professionals from different sectors of the industry also took part in specialist seminars in Shanghai, Guiyang in the south west, Lanzhou in north west China and Beijing.

German know-how in demand
Once again Jürgen Veil, KBA head of marketing at the sheetfed offset plant in Radebeul and a well-known and valued print expert among the Chinese, was on hand. Showing print and finishing samples, he explained different production processes of high-quality inline finishing when printing on plastic film and different applications of cold-foil printing. The wide and varied agenda was rounded off with presentations by KBA China sales manager Lianbiao Wang as well as regional sales and service representatives of KBA China, who gave practical demonstrations to the management of the companies invited.

Theory and practice combined
Along with seminars, practical demonstrations at KBA users took place in most cities. For example, participants were treated to a live demonstration of a seven-colour Rapida 105 equipped with a coater at Shanghai Qiangwei Printing Company. In Guiyang cigarette packaging manufacturer Guizhou Yongji invited guests to see an eight-colour Rapida 105 with coater in action. With a total of six sheetfed offset presses, this company is the largest KBA user in the region. In Lanzhou two companies opened their pressroom doors: Huanghe Packaging Printing Company with a five-colour Rapida 105 and Dingxi Packaging with a six-colour Rapida 105. Both companies predominantly produce packaging for spirits. In the country's capital city Beijing, a Rapida 105 with five printing units could be seen in action at Hongbo Haotian Technology. Five Rapidas are also in operation here.

The next KBA road show throughout China is scheduled for autumn 2013.