Koenig & Bauer AG (KBA) of Germany and System Brunner of Switzerland have teamed up to create an inline measurement and control system that guarantees optimum color fidelity in sheetfed presses. The new system will be unveiled in a Rapida 106 on KBA's stand at the Ipex international trade fair from 18 to 25 May in Birmingham. Combining KBA's density-based inline QualiTronic Color Control capability with the full-scale version of System Brunner's Instrument Flight inking unit control software, which prioritises grey balance values, creates a closed-loop system for measuring and controlling color during impression. It even assesses the visual appearance of every printed sheet, thus promoting stable, uniform production from one day to the next and from one press to another.

Instrument Flight inking-unit control software has become adopted the world over thanks to its underlying logic of prioritising grey balance values. Multi-dimensional color adjustments are made based on over 30 measured process variables in order to compensate for the process dynamics of offset printing. This maintains the balance – and thus consistency – in the printed image and compliance with international standards such as System Brunner's own Globalstandard and ISO 12647-2.

KBA QualiTronic Color Control with Instrument Flight offers users of Rapida litho presses additional options for expanding process automation to support high-quality color fidelity, which has a positive impact on production waste, economy – and the loyalty of quality-focussed customers. Following the Ipex premiere, systems suitable for Rapida medium-format presses will be available in August, those for small- and large-format presses a little later.

Further information will be available at KBA's Ipex press conference (11.45 a.m. on 19 May in the NEC Atrium) and on its stand (6D560 in hall 6).