February 4, 2004 -- KBA North America, a leading sheetfed offset press manufacturer based in Williston, VT, has presented Midlands Packaging Corporation, Lincoln, Nebraska, with a hand-made press replica of its KBA Rapida 105 41” six-color sheetfed press with inline hybrid UV coating. The press was installed in January 2004 with production to begin in mid-February 2004. “As our customer base changed and their needs changed we knew it was only a matter of time before we were going to have to join the revolution toward faster makeready and much faster run speeds,” says Gary Riecke, plant manager at Midlands Packaging. “Customers demand lower prices, shorter lead times and their expectation of color consistency and overall quality has risen dramatically. Early in 2003 our management decided to investigate the new trends in packaging and while the presses we had were adequate, the future of packaging seems to be in special substrates, UV and special coatings, as well as very fast makeready and run speeds.” Right time to take advantage of the Rapida 105 In August of 2003 Midlands management decided that the time was right to take advantage of the design refinements of the new KBA Rapida 105. At the time, the company had four older printing presses: two six-color presses with dedicated coaters, a four-color with dedicated coater and a three-color. All were 40-inch presses ranging in age from 11 to 18 years old. A number of factors lead to the final decision of choosing a KBA Rapida 105, among them were: its high levels of automation, run speed, substrate versatility, as well as the ability to run hybrid UV inks and coatings. “We have had our eyes on the Rapida presses since they were first developed,” says Riecke. “We have had five older 40” six-color sheetfed presses with aqueous coating but none with hybrid UV. The new press will allow us to print on plastic and other unique substrates due to its hybrid UV capabilitiy.” Midlands' new press is equipped with a Graphix hybrid UV ink and coating dryer to allow the printing of foils and plastic substrate as well as the application of very high gloss coatings to the normal boxboard.   KBA’s huge experience in board printing “We felt that KBA has had more experience in meeting our requirements as a board printer than other press manufactures,” says Riecke. “Being able to run substrates from 70 lb. offset to micro flute with no adjustments to the press is an important feature. Timed airbars to assure no slapping or marking of large solids, and a newly designed feeder that assures press speed of 15,000 per hour with continuous feed and delivery of board stock were just some of the concepts that made this press attractive. Other factors that influenced our decision were excellent print quality, color consistency, full automation for plate mounting, and a user friendly control unit.” Established in 1972, Midlands Packaging Corporation is a privately held company with the corporate headquarters and production facilities located in Lincoln, Nebraska.  There are also sales offices in Denver, Minneapolis, Kansas City, and St. Louis. The firm has 130 employees in a 211,000 sq ft facility in Lincoln. It has a nationwide clientele for folding cartons, laminated cartons and displays, thermoformed plastics, and corrugated containers and displays. KBA North America is a leading supplier of sheetfed offset and digital presses located in Williston, VT.It is a member of the KBA Group, a leader in the manufacture of sheetfed offset, digital offset, web offset, rotogravure directory, security, and newspaper presses.