Industry leading folding carton manufacturer expands capacity to its fleet of KBA presses

Further investing in its growth and high customer satisfaction in the folding carton market, Walter G. Anderson, Inc., a respected independent supplier of folding cartons, will be installing its third KBA Rapida 145 57-inch seven-color press with coater at its facility in Newton, Iowa in April 2015 where it will be joining twin KBA Rapida 145 57-inch presses with coaters, which were installed over a four year time span. The firm’s sleek 175,000 sq ft facility outside of Des Moines, built in 2011, is a showplace for KBA presses, and with the third Rapida 145 added this year, will boast the single largest number of these new high-performance presses in the world.

“Ever since we first saw the new Rapida 145 large format press in action before it was officially announced, we’ve been thoroughly impressed with its performance and production,” says Marc Anderson, president and CEO of Walter G. Anderson, Inc. “Our first two Rapida 145 presses run round-the-clock and have become workhorses producing our folding carton work. We’re pleased to install a third Rapida 145 here in Newton to provide the redundancy and flexibility that our valued customers deserve.”

The new Rapida 145 seven-color press with coater will be equipped with KBA’s award-winning technology. These features include a fully-automatic plate changer; CleanTronic Synchro providing simultaneous cleaning of inking rollers, blankets and impression cylinders and includes dedicated package for inking unit drives; and ErgoTronic ColorControl for the highest quality printing.

The firm installed its first Rapida 145 57-inch press with coater in August 2011 “under wraps” prior to its official debut at Drupa 2012. Prior to the purchase, Anderson’s management team did its due diligence and researched the entire market of large format presses before choosing the Rapida 145. “It was the breakthrough press we were seeking,” recalls Anderson. “KBA has the leading reputation in large format and our prior eight KBA presses have operated very well.” 

What drew Anderson to purchase a third Rapida 145? “Amazing technological ingenuities, the highest run speeds, redesign of the feeder, new delivery extension and delivery, user-friendliness, ability to pre-set different options, and being environmentally-friendly allows our company to save on power and decrease our power consumption as well as providing shorter makereadies to reduce waste,” he says. 

“Throughout all of our press installations, KBA has been supportive and offered on-site training as we brought new press operators onboard. Training has been superb and the KBA staff has been very patient. We’re anticipating the same level of commitment and partnership as we take delivery of our newest Rapida 145 in April,” says Anderson.

Founded in 1950, Walter G. Anderson, Inc. has grown to be the leading independent supplier of folding cartons in the upper Midwest. Walter G. Anderson’s manufacturing facilities in Hamel, Minnesota and Newton, Iowa are among the most modern folding carton plants in the industry. The latest technology is utilized to bring high quality, fast turnaround and low cost on a wide variety of substrates. Its veteran, highly-skilled workforce provides its customers with prompt service and the highest quality. Its commitment to reinvesting enables the company to grow, as it meets and exceeds its customers demand for flexibility and responsiveness. Walter G. Anderson has been recognized by General Mills, Berry Plastics, Cargill, and Hormel. Its participation in AIB, GMA-SAFE, GFSI, and G7 affirms its commitment to good manufacturing practices.