KBA's new Rapida 145 series of large-format sheetfed offset presses, unveiled at Drupa 2012, is attracting particular interest among Italian packaging printers.

That applies not only to the major industrial centres in the north, but also to printers in the more southern regions of the country. Following installations of two six- and seven-colour presses at a customer in Bari, a further six-colour coater model for Maserpack srl in Cisterna di Latina near Rome is the third new press to go into production within just a few months.

Confidence in product and service

The new Rapida 145 (format 106 x 145 cm) is already the fourth KBA installation for Maserpack, and a worthy successor to several Varimat 142 and Rapida 142 presses – each in a six-colour configuration with inline coating unit. Company president Massimo Tramontano: “We have always placed great confidence in KBA as a manufacturer and supplier, not only for its technical innovations, but also because the service offered by its Italian office has always been exemplary.”

Revolutionary technology meets high expectations

“The Rapida 145 is in many ways revolutionary, and we are proud to be one of the first users of this new press generation. The smooth production start-up in summer 2012 was an immediate indication that our investment decision was the right one. And the first big order which we printed for our client Danone France in September already demonstrated the performance potential of the new press. Our expectations have been met in every way.” 

For Massimo Tramontano, it was already clear when he signed the contracts in January 2012 that the new KBA press would hit the headlines at Drupa: “It is the most efficient solution currently available on the market. KBA is the market leader for large formats and has again delivered impressive proof of its capabilities. As can be seen from our numerous certifications relating to product quality and safety, for example to EN 9000, 9001, 14001 and BRC/IoP (British Retail Consortium/Institute of Packaging), quality and reliability stand at the focus of our work at all stages of the process. It is our constant endeavour to further develop both technologies and our human inputs, and in this way to be able to guarantee the final customer fast and flexible supplies of the highest quality. When it comes to production speed, makeready times, ease of operation and energy consumption, the Rapida 145 sets new standards. The enlarged print format also enables us to offer our clients additional creative design options.”

Modern production for top clients

Alongside its 20,000 m² production site with a highly automated workflow combining pre-press, print and post-press operations in Cisterna di Latina, Maserpack also maintains a sales office in Inzago near Milan. When the company was first founded in 1989, it began with the production of folding boxes for the packaging of salt and sugar. In 2000, the portfolio was extended to cover packaging solutions for the whole food and beverages sector, which is still today the largest target group. Print orders for the fashion branch and other areas of industry are further important segments. France is a significant market alongside Italy. Fifty per cent of the packaging is produced for export. The products range from folding boxes to clusters and display stands using solid and corrugated boards between 200 and 500 g/m².

The Maserpack client base includes many well-known names, such as Barilla, Danone, Coca Cola, Schweppes, British American Tobacco, San Pellegrino, Nestle, Parmalat, Giorgio Armani, Gruppo La Perla and other brand manufacturers.

Fast and flexible

With its team of 35 highly motivated and qualified employees, Maserpack is working to further improve its position on the European packaging markets: “Our new Rapida 145 is fast and flexible. Its fast job changeovers permit economic handling of both our typical run lengths between 35,000 and 40,000 sheets, and shorter runs between 5,000 and 20,000 sheets. And that, in turn, enables us to react optimally also to the needs of our smaller clients. We can use either water-based or UV coatings in the coater tower, and can thus offer value-adding special effects for the packaging products.”

The Rapida 145 at Maserpack features a high level of automation and incorporates a high-speed package for printing speeds up to 17,000 sph. That ensures fast turnarounds also for longer runs. Equipment highlights on the press include the sidelay-free in feedDriveTronic SIS, a CX board-handling package, automated pile logistics and raised foundations for increased pile heights, as well as FAPC fully automatic plate changers, CleanTronic Synchro andCleanTronic ReInk washing systems, and energy-saving VariDry^BLUEdryers.