The KBA information stand (no. 4460 in hall 4 on the Palexpo site) at Ifra Expo 2001 in Geneva from 15 to 18 October will focus on technological advances for current and future applications in newspaper production. These include our new 9-cylinder 6/2 Commander for a maximum web width of 2.4m (7ft 2in) - an attractive alternative to double-width presses for newspaper publishers with high-circulation, high-pagination titles. One of the world's top two suppliers of newspaper presses, KBA offers a broad range of new-generation one- and two-across offset, anilox-offset and flexo presses complete with automated paper logistics, digital data transfer from pre-press and a host of other intelligent features. The 9-cylinder satellite configuration of the 6/2 Commander eliminates fan-out - even on wide webs   Newspaper publishers are squaring up to the e-media challenge by expanding colour, cutting production and distribution times, splitting editions for more accurate reader targeting, and enhancing cost-efficiency on the back of standardised production workflows supported by a rise in computer-to-plate. An increasing number of tower presses are being configured with dryers for semi-commercials. We have led the way with large numbers of shipments to European publishing houses. The 9-cylinder satellite configuration of the new 6/2 Commander promotes a precise colour register, even on wide webs, while a continuous lock-up slot on the plate cylinder accelerates plate mounting. The minigaps and blanket plates first featured on KBA commercial presses six years ago deliver an optimum print quality by eliminating cylinder vibration. The countdown to the market launch in autumn 2002 of our revolutionary Cortina waterless mini tower press unveiled at Drupa 2000 is also running to schedule with the active collaboration of prominent players in the platemaking, ink and paper industries. The first two-across Cortina for the Berliner format will commence beta testing in the second quarter of 2002 at Zeitungsdruck Dierichs in Kassel, Germany.