Corporate service award recognizes industry leadership and technical innovation

• Cited for its technological innovations that drive the industry forward
• Active involvement in NPES and the association’s research arm, PRIMIR
• Award presented at the NPES annual conference in mid-October in Scottsdale

KBA North America is proud to have received the 2017 Harold W. Gegenheimer Corporate Award for Industry Service from NPES - The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies.  The prestigious award, named for the former NPES president and Baldwin Technology Company chairman emeritus, recognizes leadership and participation in NPES and industry activities, civic leadership, and technical innovation. Mark Hischar, president and CEO of KBA North America, accepted the award at the NPES 2017 Annual Conference and Brand Inspiration Forum that was produced in partnership with the CMO Council and held October 16–18, 2017 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

In bestowing the award to KBA as its Corporate Award recipient, NPES noted that KBA has been an industry leader providing technological innovations that have served to drive the industry forward. The organization was particularly recognized for the past support and many contributions its leaders have made to NPES and to the industry. Among the variety of its involvement with NPES and the Association’s research arm, PRIMIR, KBA has been active in the work of developing industry standards with its employees as well as having also participated by chairing PRIMIR, and serving on a variety of study task forces to guide updates and the development of new PRIMIR research.

“Over many years, KBA has been a leader in innovation working to provide efficient and cost-effective systems to the graphic communications industry,” said Thayer Long, president of NPES. “In fact, KBA is celebrating its 200th corporate anniversary this year along with its parent company Koenig & Bauer. Over the course of this amazing milestone, KBA has launched many ‘world first’ technology products such as the first planetary drive, first four-color sheetfed press, first sheetfed offset press with disengaging of unused inking systems, and first inline color control system, all of which have revolutionized the industry. We are grateful for KBA’s meaningful contribution to the industry—and to NPES.”

Hischar accepted the plaque from NPES to proudly display at the firm’s Dallas headquarters. In addition, KBA’s name will be added to a plaque of past awardees on display at NPES headquarters. NPES has also established a Harold W. Gegenheimer Award scholarship with the Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation, to which $2,000 is given each year. These scholarships are awarded to the employees, or children of employees, of NPES members who are pursuing studies in graphic communications.

“This award from NPES is extremely meaningful to the entire KBA organization,” says Hischar. “It recognizes our leadership and deep commitment to building a strong future for the printing and imaging industry. Our message to the print industry is one of optimism and progress. As we meet customers across the country, we see a positive sense of expansion and confidence. We’re very proud of the solutions we offer, our knowledgeable team of sales managers and service technicians, and our broad portfolio of applications. We are extremely grateful and honored to the Board of Directors at NPES for selecting our company for the 2017 Harold W. Gegenheimer Award.”