The KBA Group announced a positive verdict on group performance in the first three days of Print China in Guangdong which will finish on 12 April. Its 1,000m2 stand is proving popular and its clear message “KBA: Sprint to Profit” shown on a large LED wallscreen and backed up with a host of print samples from KBA’s broad print technology portfolio has had a positive effect on order books.

Longstanding and new customers have ordered half-, medium- and large-format Rapidas in various configurations. However, the medium-format Rapida 105 has dominated new order intake in China. There are also projects in the pipeline for the new Rapida 105 PRO announced at Print China. The new press has been positioned between the proven Rapida 105 and the high-end Rapida 106. The Rapida 105 Pro (more details to follow on 13 April) will be officially unveiled at an open house from 24 to 26 June at the KBA plant in Radebeul. Live demos of a KBA Rapida 105-5+L and a Rapida 75-4+L with LED-UV printing are attracting flocks of visitors and print samples are being snapped up. KBA adopted the role of trendsetter in terms of saving energy and environmentally friendly LED-UV printing in Europe and sees opportunities for this technology in the Chinese market which is becoming increasingly ecologically orientated. Moreover, the sheets can be sent immediately to postpress. Other highlights at the trade show include inline and online quality control as well as the launch of MIS CIP4-workflow Complete Druck.X. KBA is also exhibiting a folding carton gluer in 96 x 100cm format (37.8 x 43.3in).

Sheetfed orders from B2 to large Format

Qianjiang Fenghua Printing Co. Ltd. ordered a four-colour Rapida 75. This is the commercial and packaging printing firm’s first KBA press. “We are looking forward to working with KBA and are convinced that we will be able to increase our productivity and boost profit with this new press,” says Li Xiaohua, general manager of Fenghua.

After ordering a Rapida 145 last year, internet printer Zhengzhou Shengda Color Printing Co. Ltd placed an order for a second Rapida 145 at the trade show. General manager Cui Wenfeng: “The Rapida 145 is a highly automated, robust and high-performance press. We will be able to enhance our capacity considerably with the second press. Moreover, we are very pleased with the service from KBA.”

KBA: Print Solutions for All

China has been one of KBA’s key global markets for many years. Some 20 per cent of all Rapidas from half to large-format go to China. Renowned Chinese newspapers are printed on KBA presses as well as magazines, commercial printwork, books, board packaging, banknotes and metal sheets for cans. The KBA Group also sees additional market opportunities for its innovative technology in the digital, coding and hollow glass and plastic container decorating segments. The company is therefore presenting a raft of offerings at the trade show under the banner “KBA: Print Solutions for All”. The print samples distributed in Guangdong from the flexible KBA RotaJET L high-volume inkjet platform with web widths from 89 to 130cm (35 - 51.2in) have been well received. Samples of flexible packaging printed on presses from KBA-Flexotecnica and decorated glass bottles produced on screen printing and digital systems from KBA-Kammann have also been in demand. These bottles are extremely popular in China and up until now are still being decorated by hand for containing high-quality rice liquor. KBA-Kammann recently opened a showroom in Shanghai to promote the mechanical direct decoration of premium quality hollow containers. The marking and coding specialists from KBA-Metronic have produced inkjet coding systems for the Chinese market at KBA-Metronic (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd. for over a year. Walter Zehner, CEO of KBA China: “At Print China we are showing that we can offer our Chinese customers proven solutions for almost all printing needs. This fact is still not known throughout China and we aim to promote our image as a solutions supplier.”