(Left to right) Don Droppo, president of Curtis Packaging; Chris Travis, Koenig & Bauer vice president of print technology; and Kerry Brown, vice president of operations at Curtis; visit Koenig & Bauer’s factory in Germany to see their new custom-designed Koenig & Bauer Rapida 145 57-inch nine-color press plus coater, drying units, and an end-of-press printing unit being built.

New year’s press will bring added capacity, top-of-the-line color management, and high-speed production capabilities

• Koenig & Bauer Rapida 145 57-inch press will support Curtis Packaging’s current new luxury packaging clients
• Proud integrated 30-year close partnership with Koenig & Bauer
• New Rapida 145 large format workflow complements current Koenig & Bauer Rapida 106 41-inch press

As the new year begins, Curtis Packaging, one of the most preeminent luxury packaging manufacturers in the U.S., is highly anticipating the delivery of a new custom-designed Koenig & Bauer Rapida 145 57-inch nine-color press plus coater, drying units, and an end-of-press printing unit at its 150,000 sq ft Sandy Hook, CT headquarters this spring. With a focus on delivering the highest quality to its customers, Curtis has equipped the press with the widest array of quality control features that are only offered by Koenig & Bauer.

The new Koenig & Bauer press, built specifically to provide high-end solutions and carton production for the firm’s long list of the world’s most discerning global brands in the cosmetic, spirits, chocolate, golf, and pharmaceutical markets, will add significant capacity and allow Curtis to continue its rapid growth.

“We’re very excited to get the press,” says Kerry Brown, vice president of operations at Curtis. “As we continue to attract high-end globally recognized brand retailers, the new Rapida is going to more efficiently support those customers who require exquisite products of outstanding beauty and enduring value by utilizing the Rapida’s top-of-the-line color management technology and high-speed production capabilities. It will complement our current Koenig & Bauer Rapida 106 41-inch workflow that has the same software and similar capabilities except our newest press will be able to drive a lot more volume through its large format size. We continue to add new customers and our upcoming Rapida will allow us to bring in more business and support our current clients by being able to quickly produce more of their volume.”

The Curtis management team has made a firm commitment to the environment in which every innovation and capital investment allows it to remain a carbon neutral facility, 100% powered by renewable energy, and sustainable. The new Rapida, says Brown, will allow Curtis to lower its energy consumption due to the Rapida’s new technology that reduces waste and its improved color management.

Curtis Packaging has counted on Koenig & Bauer as a solid, long-term partner for the past 30 years. Its management team relies on Koenig & Bauer to work together collectively and collaboratively in designing unique press models to build beautiful products for its customers.

“This investment demonstrates our commitment to support our current and future packaging needs with the highest level of technology,” says Brown. “We have always made it a mandate to invest in the greatest cutting-edge print technology to serve our high-end, globally recognized brand retail customers. Operating this newest press with our talented team of employees will drive our innovation to the highest level. Our goal is to invest in our employees, in the most unique and innovative equipment, through our supply partners such as Koenig & Bauer.”