At this year's China Print, to be held in Beijing from 12th to 16th May, Koenig & Bauer AG (KBA) and its Chinese subsidiaries KBA Printing Machinery Shanghai Co. Ltd. and KBA (Hong Kong) Co. Ltd. will be presenting sheetfed offset high-tech for the most varied production demands on a stand covering almost 900 m² (Hall E1, Stand 016). 

Particular attention will no doubt be attracted by the representatives of two medium-format press series with a fine reputation on the Chinese market: A four-colour KBA Rapida 106 and a five-colour Rapida 105 with inline coater. Alongside, KBA will also be showing a five-colour version of its new half-format series Rapida 75. All these presses are to be seen live in production three times a day throughout the exhibition. 

Medium-format Rapidas all the rage

Certain to be an eye-catcher at China Print: The new KBA Rapida 106 (1)
KBA is demonstrating the importance it attaches to what many call the “Chinese drupa” with two exhibits for the highly popular medium format class: The five-colour Rapida 105 (sheet format 72 x 105 cm) has been configured with an inline coater and double-length extended delivery. Features geared to maximum ease of operation and higher net productivity include manual non-stop pile changing at the feeder, SAPC semi-automatic plate changers, universal clamps for coating plates and blankets, a lowerable non-stop roller rack in the delivery, and the production management system LogoTronic with CIPLink. Fair visitors will be able to witness the production of sophisticated posters and postcards on a diversity of substrates and at speeds up to 16,500 sph, with metallic inks and dispersion coatings illustrating the flexibility of the Rapida 105 in inline finishing.

For the makeready world champion KBA Rapida 106 (sheet format 74 x 106 cm, maximum speed 18,000 sph), this is to be the first exhibition appearance in China. The four-colour version on show in Beijing has been configured with a lightweight accessories package to handle substrates down to a thickness of just 0.04 mm, and features a whole host of automation modules for fast job changeovers and inline quality control. These include, among many others, manual non-stop pile changing at the feeder, sheet travel sensors in the printing units, SAPC semi-automatic plate changers, automatic roller, blanket and impression cylinder washing systems, inking unit temperature control, and an ErgoTronic professional operating console with DensiTronic professional desk for ink density measurement and control. The Rapida 106 will be demonstrating the printing of high-quality posters. 

Ultimate profitability and productivity in half format

With the Rapida 75, which is available in an optional version for an extended sheet size of 60.5 x 75 cm, complementing the standard format of 53 x 75 cm, KBA has engineered an economical and energy-saving alternative to the B2 presses offered by many other manufacturers. Visitors at China Print can experience for themselves the outstanding quality of its print. A five-colour coater model with extended delivery will be producing posters and greetings cards on a broad diversity of substrates (paper and board). Drip-off matt-gloss effects, dispersion coatings and the use of special metallic inks are to ensure that the possibilities for inline finishing gain the deserved awareness. 
 
China – A key market in Asia

The repercussions of the financial and economic crises have also led to a noticeable slowing of economic growth in the People's Republic of China. The export-oriented print industry in South China is particularly affected. Domestic demand, on the other hand, remains stable, and the branch is confident that the fair will provide new impetus. China has already been KBA's largest market in Asia for some years. Despite the global reluctance to invest, KBA has been able to record numerous sales of Rapida medium and large-format presses in the first quarter of 2009 and has closed up on the market leader in China. Orders for more than two-digit nummer of Rapida presses were received from customers in China in February and March 2009.

Koenig & Bauer enjoys a similarly good standing on the market for web presses. Only recently, KBA was able to add yet another order to the long list of single- and double-width newspaper presses on stream in China. The Dazhong Daily Newspaper Group, one of the largest provincial newspapers in China, signed up for a new four-high KBA Commander, which is scheduled for installation at Shandong Dazhong Huatai Printing in Jinan at the beginning of 2010. At Chengdu Boray Media Stock Co. Ltd., a leading printer in West China, the existing Comet and Rapida 105 installations are soon to be joined by a 16-page Compacta 215 commercial web press.