China Print 2017 opened its doors in Beijing on 9th May. And in the 200th year of its company history, the Koenig & Bauer Group (KBA) proudly unfurled a banner with its anniversary slogan “Origin & Future – 200 Years Koenig & Bauer” above a 1,000 m² stand. Through to 13th May, visitors can here gain first-hand insights into the broad product portfolio offered to commercial, publication and packaging printers, alongside the associated workflow solutions, data-driven business models and services.   

Packaging is a particularly fast-growing segment in China, and KBA is well prepared to satisfy the arising market demands with offset, flexo, screen printing and digital inkjet presses for folding cartons, corrugated board, hollow containers and metal substrates. Since 2016, this already diverse product range has been supplemented further with rotary and flat-bed die-cutters from KBA-Sheetfed and KBA-Iberica, as well as marking and coding systems from KBA-Metronic, some of which are assembled at a local subsidiary in China itself.  

Especially during the live demonstrations on the KBA stand, the five-colour Rapida 106 with DriveTronic SPC plate cylinder direct drives and the new half-format Rapida 75 PRO with six printing units, coater, extended delivery and essentially identical control and automation features are stars of the show. They are to be seen printing a series of poster and postcard jobs, placing a focus on fast job changes and stable production quality thanks to inline colour control based on grey balance with InstrumentFlight.  

A special area of the stand has been set aside to provide up-to-the-minute information on the KBA VariJET 106 for digital folding carton production. The market launch of this new inkjet/offset hybrid press is planned for the coming year.  

Already on the first day, the Rapida 75 PRO was officially handed over to its future owner Hucai Printing Co. Ltd. A first order for a press of this series from KBA was placed at drupa 2016, almost a year ago. In the meantime, Hucai operates three half-format Rapidas. The company sees the new technology as an ideal means to further increase print quality and efficiency, and as a step into the future in terms of workflow automation.