(October 18, 2008) In September KBA took to the road in China and held a technology forum in Malaysia to promote and demonstrate new trends in inline finishing along with new sheetfed products and processes unveiled at Drupa.

With venues in Tianjin, Zhengzhou, Huzhou and Dongguan (China) and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), it was the second such series initiated by KBA’s Chinese and Malaysian subsidiaries. The high level of interest in this type of technology transfer was reflected in attendance figures of 120 to 180 print professionals per day.

In and around Tianjin and Huzhou, packaging is high-growth industry. Some of the Rapida presses there were included in the roadshow. Samples printed on a Rapida 105 were a focus of keen interest. 

Jürgen Veil, sheetfed marketing manager at KBA in Radebeul, gave a brief rundown on the basic principles of coating, the economic benefits of inline finishing and the rising demand for quality-finished products in both packaging and commercial markets. Detailing the different coating systems and processes available, Veil discussed their benefits and drawbacks, the technology required and typical applications. KBA’s new coating sample book served to illustrate the extensive range of different coating effects possible. The relevant colour imposition, consumables and press configuration are listed for each sample to facilitate reproduction. In Zhenzhou and Dongguan the focus was also on DriveTronic components for cutting makeready times, and inline quality monitoring with KBA QualiTronic.

As the inventor of the mechanical printing press and the world’s oldest press manufacturer, KBA is committed to the dissemination of technology in emerging markets. In the words of KBA president and CEO Albrecht Bolza-Schünemann: “Technological progress is crucial for the long-term survival of our industry. We must actively implement new ideas and improve cost efficiency. Greening up printing processes and enhancing the tactile and optical properties of printed products are just two approaches. We must demonstrate the potential power of print and prove that modern society cannot exist without it.”  

The technology forum in Kuala Lumpur was followed by a golf tournament. KBA has had a subsidiary in Kuala Lumpur since 1997 and in Singapore since 2002. More than 60 Rapida press lines have been sold in these two countries.