A turnout of 1,000 amazed KBA employees on day two following 50 VIPs

Koenig & Bauer AG (KBA) invited representatives from the world of politics, science, business and the media as well as active and former employees to two production open days at its main plant in Würzburg, Germany, on 12 and 13 June. This came just some two years before the celebrations for the company’s 200th jubilee in September 2017. Around 50 prominent guests and almost 1,000 KBA staff and their families were amazed by how concealed behind the site’s walls the cradle of press engineering has been fundamentally modernised as part of the realignment in place since 2014, especially as the media has often reported negatively on print and the press engineering industry recently.

As KBA CEO and president Claus Bolza-Schünemann made clear on Friday when talking about the development of the company to external guests, the management board believes in the solid future of print in all its diversity despite the necessary company realignment due to media shifts. Along with setbacks for traditional print media, he mentioned that there are certainly also growing print markets. These range from all kinds of packaging and different kinds of digitally produced prints to industrial printing of decoration and laminates. 

Well-positioned for growing print markets

The KBA group has a very broad portfolio and is well-placed in growing packaging and industrial print markets. KBA continues to rely on its extensive expertise in tailor-made press technology for various markets and substrates ranging from paper to board and metal, corrugated, film and glass. With an eye on the future in recent years KBA has invested a figure in the double-digit millions in its main facility in Würzburg in parallel to personnel adjustments. New halls for manufacturing and the foundry as well as a new design centre were erected. In 2014 and in recent months highly efficient machines for precision machining large parts were installed and the reorganisation of production and assembly islands including logistics took place which entailed a raft of relocations. The visiting external experts and KBA staff who hadn’t seen the plant from the inside for a long time were impressed by the facility’s technical equipment and the new ergonomic work spaces for assembly.

Precision manufacturing also for other machinery engineers

Along with components for KBA presses, the specialists in Würzburg also cast and manufacture precision parts today for prominent external mechanical engineering and plant manufacturers. The new business unit KBA-Industrial Solutions aims to extend its order manufacturing services to other companies. As well as producing various components made of casting, steel or metal, this KBA company is also able to offer assembly, engineering and logistic services. It is thus an interesting partner for other machine manufacturers looking to outsource or in the event of capacity shortages. Accordingly, in addition to Würzburg KBA has also invested strongly in its plant in Radebeul including latest surface coating technology for cylinders and rotating parts.