Koenig & Bauer Displays Deep Commitment and Leadership to Large-Format Press Segment

With more than 200 years of experience and a stellar reputation as the leading innovator among its customers, Koenig & Bauer has maintained its foremost position as a stable innovative partner and continues to be the leader in large format press production. Its successful customers rely on Koenig & Bauer to effectively and profitably produce a wide range of applications from folding cartons and top sheets for the most well-known brands in the world.

“We have earned our distinguished reputation as the market leader of manufacturing large-format press models,” says Eric Frank, Koenig & Bauer senior vice president of marketing and product management. “Our large format press models display proven performance and extraordinary print quality. After seeing at least 50% or higher efficiency, productivity, and output on their large format press models, our customers agree with our assertion through their own KPI’s and analytics.”

Large format’s many benefits

Due to the on-going advancements in new technology on its large format models, Koenig & Bauer has repeatedly sold more large-format models than any other press manufacturer. In part, this is due to its stable of models: the large-format press line runs the gamut from the Rapida 145 57-inch with its production speeds of up to 18,000 to the 64-inch Rapida 164 printing at 17,000 sph.

Large format customers point to the competitive advantages they receive including 50% or more square inch capacity, reduced make-ready time per box, and the highest production speeds, with the most industrialized customers producing in excess of 90 million sheets per year on a large format press. Everything about a Koenig & Bauer large format press--its high nonstop productivity, less paper waste, shorter makeready times, and simultaneous processes that allows for ultra-fast job changeovers, this in combination with the exceptional print quality, and the highest level of engineering and craftsmanship-- is designed to allow the press to produce the work of two smaller format presses with the investment into one press.

Due to the broad diversity of configuration options, accessories and automation solutions, the large-format Rapida’s are an efficient means of production for both established and niche markets. They can be equipped with a reel-to-sheet feeder, a double-pile delivery, diverse drying units such as UV and LED, additional printing units after coating and perfecting facilities, as required for the individual application. For packaging printing, they can also be placed on raised foundations and integrated into a fully automatic pile logistics system. Presses with up to 16 printing and finishing units are already in daily use.

Strong demand

Koenig & Bauer large format customers have transformed their businesses by investing in solutions that provide high quality, faster turnaround, and increased automated technology. There has been a continuing strong demand for this size press all over the world.

Litho-laminated corrugated packaging manufacturer Accurate Box chose a new large format Koenig & Bauer Rapida 164 seven-color press to help its elite customers “stand out”, not “blend in” on store shelves. Working with major nationally-recognized brands such as Kellogg's and Pepsico and their specific color schemes, logos, and graphics, it is imperative for Accurate to match those shades and images box-to-box and run-to-run using its new Rapida 164 press configured with new computerized quality systems and enhancements.

A large format Rapida 164 64-inch eight-color is supporting the explosive demand and growth at Huston Patterson, a privately owned package printing business, that serves such well-known firms as Disney, Pampers, Sony and Coca-Cola. “It is our go-to press,” says Tonya Kowa-Morelli, HP’s president.

Earlier this year, Oliver Inc. chose its ninth Koenig & Bauer press: a Rapida 145 57-inch seven color serving the food, health and beauty, and pharma package printing niches. This new workhorse press will provide 20% more production and capacity and provide enhanced creative solutions, speed to market, and high-end finishing capabilities.

To boost its printing capacity by 40%, Superior Litho in Los Angeles chose a Rapida 145 seven-color coater press, its third large-format press from Koenig & Bauer. Equipped with UV dryers, inline color control and PDF-Check, Superior Litho supplies packaging for the food, electronics and cosmetics industries, as well as for special products.

Foster Printing will be adding its fourth large format press from Koenig & Bauer, a new Rapida 164 six-color 64-inch press. Foster proudly installed the unique Koenig & Bauer Rapida 205 81-inch press, the largest ever produced, in 2012 and continues to utilize that extra large format press. “It was and continues to be a workhorse machine for us and supply immense productivity,” says Kris Blackburn, Foster’s vice president of sales.

Strong commitment

“While our large format models have many benefits for our customers, we’re proud to act as neutral consultants in which we bring a full press portfolio from half-size to large format,” says Frank.

“But due to the technology, service, and support of our large format models, customers easily choose one of those models due to their ability to be a profit leader with this format size. Only Koenig & Bauer can customize each press to each customer’s application allowing them to offer a unique printed product for extreme market differentiation. It is important to Koenig & Bauer to be the only press provider that can start and grow with a customer in all format sizes to ensure their long-term success.”

Source: Koenig & Bauer