December 19, 2003 -- Koenig & Bauer AG (KBA) has reported a significant increase in orders for commercial web presses in a market sector badly hit by the economic crisis of recent years. A total of eleven orders have been booked since September with 16-page presses in the medium and upper performance range particularly in demand. Such 16-page presses have been ordered in Germany, Italy, Estonia, Ukraine, Central and South America as well as Asia. Orders for 32- and 64-page presses have also been received from Belgium and Spain. Demand surge for KBA Compacta commercial web presses follows very positive business developments for sheetfed offset presses and a recent hike in orders for newspaper presses. KBA believes that this demonstrates the increasing willingness in the graphics industry to invest in new technology which is a good omen for the economic recovery and the upturn in the advertising industry expected in the drupa year 2004.