Around 250 political and business luminaries attended the official inauguration on 16 September of a new KBA Rapida 106 at Schachner-Pack in Pinkafeld, Austria. Along with a new, 1,200m² (13,000ft²) warehouse, the press installation in a new production hall has expanded this four-year-old firm's capacity many times over.
 
Situated on the A2 between Vienna and Graz, Schachner-Pack is a dynamic, visionary enterprise specialising in a wide range of folding cartons for food, confectionary, pharmaceuticals, indulgence foods, cosmetics and agricultural products. The 30-employee company also prints stationery files, shaped packaging, displays and direct mail products made of solid board.
 
Schachner-Pack installed the new six-colour Rapida 106 with two coaters, triple delivery extension and an array of automation modules with the aim of expanding its product range to include high-grade inline finishing. Using the two coaters, the 18,000sph B1 (41in) press can create a multitude of matt-gloss effects and apply UV coatings in a single pass. The inline application of fine metallic and special coatings, eg iridescent, is also possible. For printing packaging the 106 incorporates a board-handling capability for substrates up to 1.2mm (48mil) thick, is embedded in an automated pile-logistics system with nonstop automatic pile change at the feeder and delivery, and stands on a 675mm (26.5in) press plinth. Other features include a DriveTronic SIS no-sidelay infeed, DensiTronic quality monitoring and logging, inking-unit temperature control, multiple washing systems and automatic plate changing. Plate changing at the two coaters is also automated for speed. The Rapida 106 is linked to pre-press via LogoTronic software.
 
The opening address by managing director Roland Schachner was followed by congratulatory speeches by the guests of honour: honorary consul and Burgenland Chamber of Commerce president Peter Nemeth; the mayor of Pinkafeld, Kurt Maczek; and regional MP Andrea Gottweis. After the reverend Günter M Schweifer had blessed the press and production hall, KBA head of sheetfed marketing and product management Jürgen Veil provided some technical data on the Rapida 106 and hosted a demonstration press run producing high-quality art prints, complete with job change. Those attending the event then had a chance to socialise and enjoy some jazz.
 
Related website: www.schachner-pack.at