In a South African first, Thunderbolt Solutions has installed a R35 million KBA Rapida 106 Printing Press at Ince (Pty) Ltd. A press event was held on 9 November at Inces Johannesburg premises, where the completed press, the result of a seven month installation process, and the companys production studio, was showcased.
This is Inces first KBA press and, as the agency is a full service provider, acquiring the press, which has replaced five opposition multicolour presses, was a strategic decision to have control over the printing of their own content generated solutions.
David Atkinson, Ince CEO, thanked Thunderbolt Solutions for its commitment to the delivery, installation and training during the course of the project.
Atkinson said, KBA gave us more flexibility in terms of set up and combinations for what we required than other suppliers. A deciding factor in acquiring the machine is that we had to be able to do the work of five presses on one press and the productivity capabilities in terms of speed and makeready time of the press is impressive. Our productivity has trebled – the machine runs at 18 000 sheets per hour and theres a 300% improvement in makeready times compared to what we had before.
The press is able to perform up to six different makeready processes simultaneously, cutting 40 or even 60 per cent off the time taken for job changeovers, depending on the complexity of the makeready and the press configuration.
The press incorporates a whole host of process automation and optimisation features, including:
• Shaftless DriveTronic feeder
• Sidelay-free infeed
• Fully automatic and simultaneous
plate changing
• Cleaning and washing systems
• Disengaging of unused inking towers
• Automatic coating forme changing
• Console-controlled coating supply
• Suction ring positioning on
perfecting presses
• Video register
