Catalent Pharma Solutions, one of the leading providers of advanced technologies and outsourced services to the global pharmaceutical, biotechnology and consumer health industries, announces the addition of a next-generation 10-colour KBA Rapida 106 printing press at their Dublin, Ireland, Printed Components facility, to support expansion in the UK and European market.

Due to be installed in June 2009, the KBA Rapida 106 is part of an ongoing investment in the Dublin plant. The press is capable of printing 15,000 sheets per hour and features a unique combination of advanced systems that provide transparent assurance of print quality and product integrity throughout the print run.

Fitted with the unique QualiTronic full-sheet scanning system, which KBA developed for its currency printing presses, the QualiTronic camera scans each sheet with over three million pixels at full production speed. The image is then inspected and compared to an approved “master” sheet for any inconsistencies or deviations. If any deviations are found, the sheet is marked for removal downstream. The system can also detect any minute colour changes and automatically adjust the press in a closed-loop sequence, without the need for operator intervention.

The press also has a simultaneous plate changing (SPC) system for ultra-quick makereadies and Plate-Ident to reduce run-up waste and ensure correct sequencing. Its innovative 2-over-8 configuration offers the ultimate in efficiency, enabling for the first time the concurrent production and make ready of alternate jobs on a single press reducing downtime to a minimum. This establishes the flexibility needed to effectively service both high- and low-volume jobs without sacrificing the superb quality, resolution and colour of true offset printing. The press also runs at low energy consumption levels, which supports Catalent’s efficiency goals and benefits its customers through improved carbon footprint audits. 

“The KBA press brings a variety of innovative capabilities specifically tailored to meet the changing needs of our customer base,” said Victor Dixon, vice president/general manager of Printed Components. “It introduces a higher standard in pharmaceutical carton supply and follows our investment in similar technology upgrades at our plants in the US and Puerto Rico. Our Dublin plant, which has catered to the pharmaceutical and healthcare market since it opened in 1989, has continually raised the bar for others to follow.”

KBA (UK) Ltd sales director Mark Nixon comments: “KBA has shown that its commitment is to ensuring that printers don’t just get the job done, but that they get the job done right. Yes, we have the high production speeds and yes we have the instant makereadies, but unless you have the on-board quality controls that can react in real time you are only printing more waste. Catalent has recognised that these new technologies will bring a significant advantage to their production processes and deliver unique benefits to their customers.”

“KBA is defined by the highest standards of excellence that it sets itself; the advanced control and performance systems available at every stage on the new 106, end-to-end, represent the pinnacle of technological innovation, developed by our specialists across the range of our larger format machines. The result is the most versatile specialist press ever in the medium format.”