The KBA Colora in operation since 2006 at Joh. Heider Verlag and its associate company Heider Druck in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany, will be extended by a four-high tower and a console in autumn this year.

Together with a KBA Journal installed in 2002 the press line will be equipped for 4-over-4 printing of up to 64 pages in Berliner format. With this extension contract Joh. Heider Verlag continues its longstanding partnership with Koenig & Bauer (KBA). In 2009 this collaboration was expanded further to comprise sheetfed offset. The order which was placed recently also includes the comprehensive modernisation and maintenance of the publishing house’s existing presses which guarantees operational stability, long-term availability as well as the supply of spare parts, in particular electronic components and software.

Media service provider with strong focus on customers and environment

Established in 1889, Joh. Heider Verlag is managed by the fourth generation of the founding family and after starting out as a newspaper house has developed into a versatile publishing, printing and media enterprise. Today its broad portfolio encompasses brochures, magazines, books, calendars and many other commercial products in sheetfed offset, and the company’s web-based offerings include freesheets, trade and federation publications, magazines, supplements and gazettes etc. The traditional firm with a strong environmental focus sees itself as an innovative service provider to a customer base embracing publishers, federations and advertising agencies. Popular supra-regional publications, such as the sport magazine kicker, are produced and finished in split editions week after week in flexible, but also very tight time frames. In addition to web offset, an automatic five-colour Rapida 106 sheetfed offset press with coater was fired up at Heider Druck in May 2009.

Their book publishing portfolio encompasses publications on business and social politics, books of regional interest as well as photography and art volumes. Alongside ad acquisition, the media services the company also provides for its print customers include ad management.

Press extension for more colour

After the extension the press will comprise two separate and couplable 32-page sections with four Pastostar RC reelstands and the KBA Patras M reel-logistics system, two Journal and two Colora printing towers, two centrally-located folders as well as four EAE consoles. High-volume products can be printed at speeds of up to 75,000 32-page copies per hour. The floor-level design and the deliveries which can be seen from the consoles promote teamwork and responsibility. This also forms quality and motivational attributes compared to press configurations with separate areas of responsibility.

After signing the contact in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany (l-r): standing: Hans-Martin Heider, senior director Hans Heider, Guido Heider, sitting: Günter Noll from KBA, Roberto Heider