KBA North America, a global press manufacturer based in Dallas, Texas, announces that Meredith-Webb Printing Company, a national commercial printing company with services ranging from direct mail to packaging, has agreed to purchase a new KBA Rapida 106 41-inch six-color ten-unit press including coaters and 12-foot extended delivery. The custom-built press will be delivered to the Burlington, NC firm in November 2010.

"When our father handed the company over to my brother Travers and me four years ago he instilled in us the importance of committing to the best technology available," relates Kelly Webb, executive vice president at Meredith-Webb. "After Travers and I met with Kelly Ward, our production manager, and Wendell Robinson, our pressroom supervisor, we all agreed that the KBA Rapida 106 six-color ten-unit 41-inch sheetfed press was the best equipment for our needs. It is world-class printing equipment."

The KBA Rapida 106 41-inch high-performance sheetfed press, dubbed the "makeready champion" for its 18,000 sph output and cutting-edge automation, is equipped with a bevy of new technology, including the popular KBA Logotronic Professional management system, the KBA Densitronic combined density and color measuring system for quality control, as well as the Drivetronic feeder, with its pre-setting capabilities that help to reduce waste and allow for rapid job changes.

Key components of the new KBA Rapida 106 being installed at Meredith-Webb are its lightweight stock and heavyweight board packages, its UV capability, and its double coating feature, which were specially-built for the company. Webb says that the company has been testing UV and aqueous coating applications as well as special drying applications. The double coater on the press, he says, will increase throughput speeds and allow jobs to be quickly coated and ready for finishing.

"Having a press specially configured this way allows us to crossover in all three markets that we serve: commercial, packaging, and direct mail," says Webb. "Our KBA sales manager, Sam Creel, brought us ideas on how the press could be specially built and explained how the press could expand our customer base. He became a true partner in our business."

While the new Rapida 106 41-inch press is Meredith-Webb's first KBA machine, management had been following KBA developments for many years. "We would see KBA presses being operated at strong, successful printing companies," recalls Kelly Webb. "You look to see what other printers are operating and talk to the owners. Over and over, we would hear about KBA's exceptional service, reliability, and technology."

"During the past three years, Travers and I have changed the management structure in our company in which we have given our employees new opportunities and delegated management responsibilities with a new commitment to quality and productivity," says Kelly Webb. "While other printing firms are reducing head counts, we're adding quality employees. We have an entrepreneurial spirit and enthusiasm and we're continuing to build solid relationships with our customers and our suppliers. It's an exciting time for us and we look forward to installing our new KBA press this fall."

Established in 1952 by George Webb, Meredith-Webb Printing continues to grow in its sprawling 140,000 sq ft headquarters along Main Street in Burlington, NC. Led by brothers Travers and Kelly, sons of the founder, the 85-employee firm has proudly earned the chain-of-custody certifications endorsed by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC) as part of the company's commitment to achieve its environmental initiatives. Meredith-Webb also earned the G7 Master qualification, the "seal of approval" from the IDEAlliance as a G7 Master Printer, which proves that the firm possesses the technology and tools to consistently deliver the highest quality printing in the world, based on the most stringent international standards.