Rapida 145: Fair highlight in large format

One of the highlights on the KBA stand – and indeed one of the highlights of the fair as a whole – is the large-format Rapida 145 press with its production speed of up to 17,000 sheets per hour. The fastest large-format press on the world market will be celebrating its official Asian premiere in a five-colour coater configuration. It can be seen in live action several times daily, and will be printing a succession of high-quality poster and packaging jobs with fast changeovers. With the presentation of this new, highly automated large-format press generation in Beijing, KBA is underlining also its technology leadership in large formats. Well over 100 presses of the predecessor series Rapida 142-162a are already in production in China – not to forget also a superlarge-format Rapida 185 in the metropolitan area of Shanghai.

Beside the increase in maximum production speed from 15,000 to 17,000 sph, the Rapida 145 can be distinguished from its predecessor Rapida 142 by way of its enlarged sheet format (now 106 x 145 cm) and  the significantly wider range of automation options geared to even faster makeready and even higher net productivity. The high level of automation begins at the fully preset-capable feeder and continues right through to AirTronic delivery. Along the way, users benefit enormously from features such as the sidelay-free infeed DriveTronic SIS, which has gained the acclaim of the trade public on the Rapida 106 over the past five years by enabling ultimate substrate flexibility without manual intervention, and the fast CleanTronic Synchro washing system with its two separate beams for blanket and impression cylinder washing.

New automation modules are also available for the coating tower. One example: Anilox roller sleeves which can be exchanged by a single operator to vary the amount of coating applied – an option unique to KBA in this format class. As an alternative to the conventional KBA VariDry dryers, users can instead choose the VariDryBlue system with waste heat recovery and energy savings of up to 50 per cent. And for the first time at a trade fair in China, visitors will furthermore be able to admire the new KBA ErgoTronic console, which was unveiled at drupa 2012, with its giant wall screen and integrated KBA ColorDrive measuring systems.

Even if Chinese printers are currently not yet using all the available automation options, they are nevertheless highly appreciative of the innovative, future-oriented technologies of the large format market leader.

Rapida 105 now with up to 17.500 sph

The new medium-format Rapida 105, which celebrated its global launch at the All-In-Print fair in Shanghai in November 2011, is in the meantime in successful production for numerous commercial and packaging printers in China. It is based on the same technical platform as the high-end Rapida 106 press (max. 20,000 sph) and can now be offered with a high-speed package for speeds up to 17,500 sph. The press on show at China Print is similarly a five-colour coater version, with extended delivery and special board-handling accessories. New for Chinese printers looking at the Rapida 105 is the optional availability of the new ErgoTronic console, ErgoTronic ColorDrive(automatic colour measurement on the console desk) and QualiTronic Professional for inline colour control and image inspection. The eco-package for the Rapida 105 (“Emission-tested” certification) with EES(Emission Extraction System) caters to the ever stronger environmental awareness in the branch.

Digital print samples from the KBA RotaJET 76

The high-volume digital press KBA RotaJET 76 will be present indirectly in Beijing. On the Müller Martini stand (E1-050), visitors can see the downstream processing of books and other digital products printed on a KBA RotaJET. Experts on the KBA stand will be providing full information on the technology and possible business models for this innovative inkjet web press.