"Sprinting ahead" was the banner unfurled to kick off this year's KBA Asia Roadshow in the German Centre in Singapore on 5th December 2012. Further stops on the tour will be Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. The opening event was at the same time an opportunity to celebrate the 10th anniversary of KBA Asia Pacific, the subsidiary of Koenig & Bauer AG in Singapore.

The KBA sales and service subsidiary in Singapore has been growing constantly since its founding in 2002, and has had its offices in the German Centre since August 2006. The generous lobby provided an impressive setting for the festive gathering. Stefan Segger, managing director of KBA Asia Pacific, welcomed the high-ranking  representatives of the sheetfed and newspaper print branch, as well as a number of guests of honour from Singapore and Germany. He began with an outline of the history of KBA Asia Pacific and gave special mention to the immensely successful KBA roadshows, which have in the meantime become something of an institution in Asia. Stefan Segger: "KBA Asia Pacific Singapore has expanded again in 2012 and will be returning the best result ever in our 10-year history, while our competitors are restructuring and drastically streamlining their operations."

Sales director Dietmar Heyduck from the German parent company gave an insight into the activities of the KBA Group. One aspect which was especially well received among the guests was the fact that KBA is the only major press manufacturer to have weathered even the last years of financial and economic crisis with a positive bottom line, an achievement which continues to secure the company a solid financial standing. Jürgen Veil, properly KBA head of sheetfed offset marketing, but for many in Asia simply "Mr. Roadshow", explained some of the latest innovative technologies developed by KBA for the different segments of the print market, including a new generation of energy-optimised UV dryers manufactured by the company itself.

At the subsequent social evening in the German Centre, the guests were also able to enjoy a taste of traditional German cuisine, served together with the fitting German beers and wines. "It has been a fantastic evening," said Jürgen Veil at an already advanced hour, "and I think we have demonstrated clearly that we are very much a committed and reliable future partner for printers in the Asia-Pacific region."