KBA's return to sheetfed flexo for corrugated

The focus on growth markets, such as conventional and digital packaging printing, is part of KBA's successful strategy. With this in mind, KBA announced its return to the sheetfed flexo market for corrugated at Drupa. CEO and president Claus Bolza-Schünemann: "We were active in this market around 10 years ago with KBA Corrugraph flexo press built at our U.S. plant. Users of the first Corrugraph series are extremely satisfied with their presses and we have the know-how for a cutting-edge version of our sheetfed flexo press. It is expected to be built at KBA's headquarters in Würzburg."

Even more highly automated for fast job change the new KBA Corrugraph features an integrated rotary die-cutter. It is engineered for a maximum sheet format of 152 x 340cm and a maximum print speed of 12,000sph. It can handle substrate thicknesses from 1 to 10mm. What is more, KBA is working with HP on the development and production of the HP T1100S inkjet web press with a web width of 2.8m. HP has already ordered 5 of these presses.

Packaging market growing faster than world's population
With a growth rate of +4% p.a. the global packaging market is growing faster than the world's population. Flexible packaging (+4.4%), corrugated (+4.3%), board (+4.2%), rigid plastics (+3.8%), glass (+3.3%) and metal (+2.5%) are growing the fastest. KBA companies are active in all of these areas, and are even the leader in some.