(September 23, 2008) KBA North America, a global press manufacturer based in Williston, Vermont and Dallas, Texas, will be promoting a triumvirate of its abilities–leadership in proven large-format press (both straight and perfecting) technology; the widest range of press models (from 20-inch to 81-inch), and its stability as a 190-year-old family-owned business–at Graph Expo 08 in Booth 4429 from October 26-29, 2008 in McCormick Place South, Chicago. KBA is the only press manufacturer that can lay claim to all three of these abilities.
 
“We are proud of our unique position in the press manufacturing market,” says Holger Garbrecht, president and CEO of KBA North America. “We have a long, strong reputation as the large format press leader. Our customers look to us as partners, in which we work with them on the type of press they need for their customers, and build each press to their specifications. We’ve been awarded the prestigious PIA/GATF InterTech award for two of our press models: the small footprint Genius 52 UV digital offset 20-inch press and our largest model, the Rapida 205 81-inch sheetfed press as well our SIS side lay fee infeed system – the only kind in the market.”
 
Fresh from a successful two weeks at Drupa in late May, KBA will continue to market its makeready champion Rapida 106, a 41-inch fully-automated sheetfed press. This press convincingly demonstrated to attendees at Drupa of its immense capabilities by producing a total of 15 jobs, each of 520 good sheets, in just 59 minutes and 36 seconds. The newly-unveiled press features an 18,000 sph output, ultra fast makeready times, and cutting edge automation. It provides a wide choice of automation options including the KBA DriveTronic dedicated drives and simultaneous plate mounting system, as well as the DriveTronic feeder, with its pre setting capabilities.
 
Another new press making its debut at Drupa and being promoted at Graph Expo 08 is the six-up Rapida 75, a 23.75 x 29.5-inch press that offers a 15,000sph, is configurable with two to eight colors plus coater and four-over-four perfector, and incorporates some 30 new features.
 
The centerpiece of the booth will be the award-winning Genius 52 UV digital offset press, a recipient of the prestigious PIA/GATF InterTech award in 2006. The Genius 52 UV is a one-operator press designed to print on a variety of stock including paper, board, plastic and lenticular. Using a central impression cylinder, the Genius 52 UV ensures accurate registration with full automation and immediate drying using its UV ink system. The Genius 52 UV can print 0.06 mm paper up to 32 pt. board stock as well as plastics and lenticular stock. With its ultra-short make-ready of less than 15 sheets – based on the Gravuflow keyless inking system - and make-ready times of less than 5 minutes, the Genius 52 UV press is the perfect tool for the short run commercial, packaging and advertising specialty markets.
 
After visitors learn about KBA’s new automation and equipment, they are invited before and after show hours to travel off-site and see KBA’s modern equipment in action. A number of KBA customers in the Chicagoland region are opening their doors for tours of their facilities.
 
Graph Expo 2008 is the most comprehensive prepress, printing, package printing, converting, mailing and fulfillment and digital equipment trade show in the Americas. The show will feature more than 600 exhibitors in 400,000 net sq ft of exhibit space and offer 70 educational opportunities.
 
KBA North America is a member of the KBA Group, a leading global supplier of sheetfed, webfed, and digital offset presses located in Williston, Vermont. KBA is dedicated to excellence in printing technology. The company’s greatest satisfaction comes from helping its customers succeed by building presses that enable their businesses to prosper. From engineering through production, KBA’s focus is on people, providing flexible technology, customized printing solutions, and personal service to help its partners differentiate themselves and be successful today and in the future.