Popular exchange of knowledge and experience in Dresden
On 11 to 13 December some 100 members of the KBA VSOP Club (= very smart offset printers), a union of Czech, Polish and Slovakian Rapida press users, met for their annual meeting at KBA in Dresden. It was the sixth VSOP event for the users from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, but the first for the Polish members.
On the second day of the event the print specialists from KBA informed the participants about current trends, technical and technological innovations for Rapida sheetfed presses, the new services on offer for printing plants and the expansion of KBA's product spectrum in digital printing. Dirk Winkler, head of the print technology department in Radebeul, gave an overview of the practical automation solutions in the Rapidas. Sascha Fischer, head of KBA Complete Services & key account manager Europe, presented integrated solutions and top-of-the-range technology to boost the productivity of printing plants. Project manager Klaus Eppich informed the guests about developments regarding the KBA RotaJET 76 under the title "Digital printing technology – made by KBA" and about the new, upgradeable RotaJET L press platform for high-volume applications in commercial and industrial printing.
Print demonstrations of half, medium and large-format were naturally not overlooked. A six-colour Rapida 106 with reel-to-sheet unit and cold-foil kit printed in-mould film in five colours with UV inks. This was then finished with silver cold foil and aqueous coating. The same labels were then printed on Masterscreen 100 PVC. Posters produced on a Rapida 75 with LED-UV inks were finished in three different ways: without coating, with solid UV coating and with effect coating. A six-colour Rapida 145 also delivered three different jobs nonstop with automated pile logistics and at a speed of 17,000sph. The visiting print experts from the sales region covered by KBA CEE also saw grooving and die-cutting of folding carton on a DC R 105 die-cutter from Montex. The sheets of labels produced earlier on the Rapida 106 were cut out. Last but not least a ten-colour Rapida 106 perfector with dedicated plate-cylinder drives and LED dryers ran several jobs with fast and flying job changing between the five printing units before and after perfecting.
Along with a wealth of specialist information, the agenda made time for exchanging views during a visit to the famous Christmas market in Dresden, a tour of the town and a relaxed evening event.
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