KBA North America, a global press manufacturer based in Dallas, Texas, proudly announces that it has received the prestigious 2010 Industry Award from the National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL) at its Top Management Conference.  The beautifully-engraved award was presented to Eric Frank, KBA vice president of marketing, from Keith Kemp, chairman of NAPL, and Joseph Truncale, president and CEO of NAPL, in early February.
 
“We are pleased to accept this award from NAPL for the entire KBA organization,” says Mark Hischar, president and CEO of KBA North America. “It is quite an honor to be recognized by your customers and peers for this distinguished honor. We at KBA will continue to lead the graphic arts industry and provide the support, education, technology, and equipment that our customers have become accustomed to receiving and we’ll continue to support organizations such as NAPL that move our industry forward.”
 
The annual award, which has been presented since 1967, is given to a manufacturer, supplier, distributor, or marketer of machinery, supplies, or services, who has made some definable, notable contribution on the behalf of the industry. The winner of this award has always been considered a "first class company"--that is, one that has an unblemished reputation for being fair, honest, and providing quality goods and services, according to NAPL.
 
In addition to being a "good company," the recipient of the award is being recognized for some specific worthwhile contribution to the industry, i.e., sponsoring an event, underwriting a research task, making unique information and data available, assisting in graphic arts education, or in some fashion, providing discernable leadership.
 
“There were many reasons that we chose to bestow our Industry Award to KBA but two stood out,” explains Joseph Truncale of NAPL. “First, we produced a special business review on why printers should choose large-format presses. We learned that many of our own printer members successfully use KBA large-format presses in their own facilities and are having great success with their KBA presses and their relationship with the company. Secondly, KBA is designing one of the most state-of-the-art technology centers at their new facility in Dallas. I recently was able to tour the facility and it is very impressive. KBA has shown a dedication to education, training, and development with the opening of this center. It shows that KBA is not only in the business of selling printing presses but committed to serving the industry with training, development, and education.”