KBA at Pack Print International in Thailand

The BITEC Exhibition Center in Bangkok opened its doors on 26 August for the four-day Pack Print International trade show shortly after the attack in the Thai capital. Just nine months ahead of the print industry’s internationally leading trade fair, Drupa, 231 exhibitors from 21 countries presented their products and services to a predominantly Asian crowd. The Koenig & Bauer Group (KBA) and its regional subsidiary KBA Asia Pacific were among the exhibitors. Some 15,000 visitors from 75 countries found out about the latest trends in the world of print. For the first time Italian subsidiary KBA-Flexotecnica, responsible for KBA’s flexible packaging printing segment, was present at this show. A flexible web press from this KBA subsidiary based in Tavazzano will soon be installed in Thailand and a further press will be delivered to China. Flexotecnica aims to expand its position in the growing flexible packaging market further with the support of the KBA Group’s regional sales and service subsidiaries.

High-tech Rapida 106 and…

Half, medium and large-format KBA Rapida sheetfed offset presses are already well established in commercial, book and packaging printing companies in Thailand and its neighbouring countries. Naturally these were the subject of great interest. In recent years these high performance machines from Saxony have been extremely successful in Thailand. Installations of medium-format presses from the Rapida 105 series have dominated. And even though Thai printing firms are currently holding back in terms of making investments, the first KBA Rapida 106 at T.C.P. on the edge of Bangkok will soon begin printing high-quality packaging at speeds of up to 18,000sph. The press, which is raised by 450mm (17.7in), will be equipped with VariDryBLUE dryers, inline colour density measurement and KBA QualiTronic professional sheet inspection system as demands for quality are rising constantly. 

 …the first Rapida 105 PRO for Thailand

The new Rapida 105 PRO which was unveiled at Print China just recently has also attracted its first Thai customers. Continental Packaging in Bangkok is to receive an eight-colour press with coater and UV drying. This installation also underscores KBA’s leading position in packaging printing. A customer from Myanmar ordered a four-colour A2+-format Rapida 66 at the trade show. 

Although stock market turbulence in China and the terror attack in Bangkok impacted on the show’s atmosphere and the investment climate in Southeast Asia, it was important for KBA to show its colours in the key market of Thailand four months after its large presence at Print China in Guangdong. Stefan Segger, managing director of KBA Asia-Pacific: “Our international business also knows less favourable times. It is important for us to show potential and existing customers regularly that we are there for them and are able to offer them new products and services with which they can to survive in a highly competitive market.”