On 2nd December, KBA-Sheetfed was once more the place to be for print professionals interested in medium-format sheetfed offset. Some 140 guests from Russia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia accepted the invitation to gain first-hand insights into the latest technology developments. High-quality printing and finishing was demonstrated on several 3B presses.

A six-colour Rapida 106 was assigned to the production of in-mould labels. A variety of different labels was printed at speeds up to 20,000 sheets per hour. The press was then converted to handle board materials and was soon sailing through a folding carton job with inline finishing in the form of drip-off coating effects.

A Rapida 105 PRO in a double coater configuration with cold foil module also printed folding cartons, but this time with inline cold foil application and UV coating. After a reel change, a second version was produced with holograms in place of the original silver cold foil. The subsequent third job turned attention to the possibilities for micro-embossing. The use of an embossing plate in the second coating tower added a relief to the product to create the desired visual and haptic effects.

On an eight-colour Rapida 106 with coater and perfecting unit for 4?over?4 production, the focus shifted to commercial production with fast makeready. Key factors here were simultaneous plate changing with DriveTronic SPC and the so-called “print clean” function to minimise or even eliminate the need for blanket washing. A multiple-section book, posters with high ink coverage, magazine covers and the KBA world map – seven jobs with run lengths between 500 and 1,000 copies were produced in less than 30 minutes. As the culmination, a set of calendar pages was printed with Flying JobChange, i.e. without stopping the press for makeready.

In the meantime, KBA-Sheetfed also offers equipment for downstream post-press processes. It was thus only natural that the visitors were interested to witness the rotary die-cutter KBA Rapida RDC 106 in action. After die-cutting of the previously printed labels, the machine was converted for 300 g/m2 board in just a few minutes. The three units were then ready for creasing, die-cutting and stripping of the folding cartons.

A visit to the famous Dresden Christmas market, followed by dinner together in the festively decorated city, rounded off a busy day.