Koenig & Bauer AG: preliminary half-year figures

KBA’s order intake up 39% on previous year

Press manufacturer on course to meet 2010 targets

KBA_RA106Following a successful consolidation in 2009, preliminary figures reveal that in the first six months of the current year German press manufacturer KBA posted a 39% increase in the Group order intake compared to the same period last year (€489.1m). This was largely due to continuing buoyant demand in China, and to upturns on a greater or lesser scale, and with substantial regional deviations, in other parts of Asia, the Middle East, Russia, western Europe and the USA.

With the volume of orders on hand scheduled for delivery this year exceeding €500m, the group looks set to achieve its sales target of more than €1.1bn for 2010. Sales figures to July were a good 4% above the prior-year figure of €452.8m. Both in the press engineering industry as a whole and at KBA sales usually tend to be higher in the second six months.

At KBA, the sheetfed division was the first to benefit in the second quarter as the print media industry perked up after almost two years of slack demand. At the beginning of June its Radebeul production plant returned to normal capacity after more than eighteen months of short-time work. Capacity at KBA’s other facilities was utilised to ensure that the double-digit jump in orders on hand work was processed on schedule.

In the second quarter business also picked up strongly at KBA’s web and special press division, whose remit includes big, multi-unit press lines. After six months the order intake was well up on the previous year, although major orders from Europe for newspaper presses will not be reflected in the bottom line until the third quarter.  Earnings improved in the first half-year as the benefits of last year’s root-and-branch consolidation gained traction. The management board will issue an updated projection for 2010 when the half-yearly report is released on 13 August.

KBR Graphics Canada Strengthens Ontario Sales Force with Two Additions

Greater Toronto area and Ontario province will be covered with dealer’s extensive line of conventional offset and digital presses as well as bindery equipment.

June 9th, 2010: Immediate Release: KBR Graphics Canada, a major supplier of printing equipment throughout Ontario and Quebec, has strengthened its sales team with the addition of two new sales representatives in the province of Ontario and the greater Toronto area (GTA). Aaron Hunter and Chris Gingras have joined KBR Graphics to serve as account managers for the printing press and bindery equipment supplier.
“We are pleased to welcome both Aaron and Chris to our company,” says Karl Belafi Jr., vice president of KBR Graphics Canada. “These two additions to our sales force represent our continued commitment to our present and future clients in the province of Ontario. Since our company has posted strong double-digit growth and with KBA press sales of over $20 million in the last two years despite the economic climate, we feel it is imperative to bolster our sales and service capabilities.
Aaron Hunter will be representing KBR’s entire line of printing press, digital press and bindery equipment in the greater Toronto area as well as eastern Ontario province. He brings more than 15 years of experience in the graphic arts industry. Hunter’s career began as a technology sales manager for Maratek Environmental Inc., where he sold environmental technologies, such as solvent recovery, fountain solution, and computer-to-plate waste treatment systems, to help printers reduce various waste streams. More recently, he was an account manager at Presstek Canada, in which he marketed digital imaging offset presses, chemistry-free computer plate systems, and all related supplies to printers in westernOntario.
“Successful printers are seeking the best possible solution for their customers and the most economical method of producing their printed products,” says Hunter. “My expertise in both environmental technology as well as digital printing will be an added benefit for my KBR customers. I look forward to sharing my knowledge to help our customers choose the most productive and efficient equipment from KBR’s complete line of graphic arts solutions.”
Chris Gingras will be representing KBR’s entire line of printing press, digital press and bindery equipment in the greater Toronto area as well as western Ontario province. He brings more than 16 years of experience in the graphic arts industry with solid press and bindery experience at two commercial printing firms as well as sales and management experience. Gingras began his career with Advance Printing, Paris, Ontario, where he worked in both the press room and in the bindery operating cutting, folding, and stitching devices. He gained further experience at Cober Printing Limited, Kitchener, Ontario in their bindery department. Gingras moved to Heidelberg Canada as a finishing technician where he was factory-trained in Ludwigsburg and Leipzig on Stahl folders and stitchers. After working as a product demonstrator at Heidelberg, he was offered a position in Heidelberg Canada’s sales department, where he worked for a year and a half until he moved to KBR Graphics.
“KBR Graphics is a full-service dealership that caters to all spectrums of the graphic arts industry,” says Gingras. “I’ll be working with commercial, digital, and packaging printers in which I’ll be able to offer a unique solution to their needs. I look forward to bringing my hands-on experience as well as my expertise to work with KBR Graphics and their clientele and continue to grow the company and support our clients in the province of Ontario.”
With a tradition spanning over 33 years of dedicated sales and service support to the printing industry, KBR Graphics LTD. has evolved as a major supplier to the printing industry covering the provinces of Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces. The company offers a wide spectrum of graphic arts equipment including major manufacturers such as KBA, MGI, Standard Horizon, Perfecta, Baum, Busch, Graphic Whizard and Challenge. KBR Graphics has locations in both Montreal and Toronto.
Related websites:
www.kbrgraphics.com

June 9th, 2010: Immediate Release: KBR Graphics Canada, a major supplier of printing equipment throughout Ontario and Quebec, has strengthened its sales team with the addition of two new sales representatives in the province of Ontario and the greater Toronto area (GTA). Aaron Hunter and Chris Gingras have joined KBR Graphics to serve as account managers for the printing press and bindery equipment supplier. 

“We are pleased to welcome both Aaron and Chris to our company,” says Karl Belafi Jr., vice president of KBR Graphics Canada. “These two additions to our sales force represent our continued commitment to our present and future clients in the province of Ontario. Since our company has posted strong double-digit growth and with KBA press sales of over $20 million in the last two years despite the economic climate, we feel it is imperative to bolster our sales and service capabilities. Aaron Hunter will be representing KBR’s entire line of printing press, digital press and bindery equipment in the greater Toronto area as well as eastern Ontario province. He brings more than 15 years of experience in the graphic arts industry. Hunter’s career began as a technology sales manager for Maratek Environmental Inc., where he sold environmental technologies, such as solvent recovery, fountain solution, and computer-to-plate waste treatment systems, to help printers reduce various waste streams. More recently, he was an account manager at Presstek Canada, in which he marketed digital imaging offset presses, chemistry-free computer plate systems, and all related supplies to printers in western Ontario.

 “Successful printers are seeking the best possible solution for their customers and the most economical method of producing their printed products,” says Hunter. “My expertise in both environmental technology as well as digital printing will be an added benefit for my KBR customers. I look forward to sharing my knowledge to help our customers choose the most productive and efficient equipment from KBR’s complete line of graphic arts solutions.” 

Chris Gingras will be representing KBR’s entire line of printing press, digital press and bindery equipment in the greater Toronto area as well as western Ontario province. He brings more than 16 years of experience in the graphic arts industry with solid press and bindery experience at two commercial printing firms as well as sales and management experience. Gingras began his career with Advance Printing, Paris, Ontario, where he worked in both the press room and in the bindery operating cutting, folding, and stitching devices. He gained further experience at Cober Printing Limited, Kitchener, Ontario in their bindery department. Gingras moved to Heidelberg Canada as a finishing technician where he was factory-trained in Ludwigsburg and Leipzig on Stahl folders and stitchers. After working as a product demonstrator at Heidelberg, he was offered a position in Heidelberg Canada’s sales department, where he worked for a year and a half until he moved to KBR Graphics. 

“KBR Graphics is a full-service dealership that caters to all spectrums of the graphic arts industry,” says Gingras. “I’ll be working with commercial, digital, and packaging printers in which I’ll be able to offer a unique solution to their needs. I look forward to bringing my hands-on experience as well as my expertise to work with KBR Graphics and their clientele and continue to grow the company and support our clients in the province of Ontario.” 

With a tradition spanning over 33 years of dedicated sales and service support to the printing industry, KBR Graphics LTD. has evolved as a major supplier to the printing industry covering the provinces of Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces. The company offers a wide spectrum of graphic arts equipment including major manufacturers such as KBA, MGI, Standard Horizon, Perfecta, Baum, Busch, Graphic Whizard and Challenge. KBR Graphics has locations in both Montreal and Toronto. 

Related websites:www.kbrgraphics.com

 

Master Packaging Expands With New KBA Rapida 142 56-inch Seven-Color Press

Highly-automated press opens new markets for eastern Canada’s largest packaging company

1006-012_Master_Packaging_Photo1Master Packaging Expands With New KBA Rapida 142 56-inch Seven-Color Press
Highly-automated press opens new markets for eastern Canada’s largest packaging company

KBA North America, a global press manufacturer based in Dallas, Texas, announces that Master Packaging, eastern Canada’s largest full-service packaging company, installed a new KBA Rapida 142 56-inch seven-color press. The press was delivered and installed in May 2009. The Rapida 142 was sold in cooperation with KBR Graphics Ltd., the central and eastern Canadian distributor for KBA North America.

“Our new Rapida press will allow our company to open up new markets with its new automated technology so we can do shorter runs," says Mary Jean Irving, president and CEO of Master Packaging, commenting on the new KBA press. The new KBA Rapida 142 press features seven printing units, a coater, automatic plate changing and automatic nonstop facility at the feeder

“Our employees’ commitment to superior quality products and service has enabled Master Packaging to become an internationally award-winning leader, serving some of North America’s most familiar brand names,” she says.

Master Packaging has its roots in Borden, PEI and also operates a second plant in Dieppe, N.B., which produces corrugated boxes. The company’s dedicated team of over 346 employees in Borden and Charlottetown, PEI as well as Dieppe, NB proudly service the packaging requirements of valued customers located in throughout the Atlantic Provinces, the U.S. Northeast and Central Canadian marketplaces. Master Packaging has been the recipient of several prestigious awards, most notably gold (first place) honors from the Flexographic Technology Association (FTA) of North America for “Technical Achievement Exemplifying the Finest Capabilities of Flexographic Printing.”

KBA North America is a member of the KBA Group, a leading global supplier of sheetfed, webfed, and digital offset presses located in Dallas, Texas. KBA is dedicated to excellence in printing technology. The company’s greatest satisfaction comes from helping its customers succeed by building presses that enable their businesses to prosper. From engineering through production, KBA’s focus is on people, providing flexible technology, customized printing solutions, and personal service to help its partners differentiate themselves and be successful today and in the future.

Related websites:

www.kba.com

www.kbrgraphics.com

www.master-packaging.com

 

KBR Graphics Canada Installs Standard Horizon BQ-470 PUR Perfect Binder at Hume Intermedia in Toronto

First-of-its-kind PUR perfect binder in Canada offers increased productivity

May 30, 2010
KBR_Press_Release_Hume_PhotoKBR Graphics Canada, a major supplier of printing equipment, announces that Hume Intermedia Services Inc., a Toronto, Ontario full-service digital and offset print and fulfillment firm, recently installed a new Standard Horizon BQ-470 PUR perfect binder, the first of its kind in Canada with PUR glue system.
“Our motto has always been ‘Service, service, service’,” says John Hume, president of Hume Intermedia Services. “By installing the new Standard Horizon BQ-470 PUR perfect binder, we are anticipating our customers’ ever increasing needs---for both PUR, which all publishers are demanding, and improved reliability and productivity.”
The Standard Horizon BQ-470 fully-automated four-clamp perfect binder, with its state-of-the-art design and fully-automated setup, is easy to operate with minimal operator training required. It produces up to 1,350 superior-quality perfect bound books per hour, with four clamps that travel on a vertical elliptical track. The BQ-470 is the latest in an expanding line of products that draw on Horizon’s core competence in finishing automation. The BQ-470 binder’s 10.4” LCD touch-screen is used to provide stepper motor-controlled automation to the professional-quality mid-range binding market. The BQ-470 can bind books up to 2.5” thick, and supports PUR adhesive to meet varying customer requirements including digital color books. The BQ-470 perfect binder fits a sweet spot in short-run professional-quality book production with full automation and touch-screen control.
The PUR glue system allows the BQ-470 to serve an even wider range of applications. PUR, which stands for polyurethane reactive, is chosen over standard hotmelt adhesives for many reasons, the most important of which are its superior adhesion and the ability of a PUR-bound book to lie flat when open. PUR is unique in that it will bond to lacquer and UV-cured coatings, films such as Mylar, as well as paper. Due to the polar nature of the polyurethane molecule, these adhesives also bond well to clay-coated papers.
“Our well informed clients understand the need the PUR durability provides for their products,” says Hume. “The BQ-470 PUR capability enables us to produce superior quality books up to 2.5 inches thick with fast changeovers for short runs. Our publishing clients are demanding PUR for their products and we are happy to comply. This technology is another asset that sets us apart from our competition.”
For maximum efficiency and throughput, the BQ-470 features an intelligent icon-based color touchscreen that facilitates set-up and allows for instant recall of regular jobs from memory. The installation and start-up of their perfect binder, says Hume, was easy and quick.

“We replaced two Standard Horizon BQ-270 perfect binders with the new Standard Horizon BQ-470,” says Hume. “In one month, we found that the BQ-470 was far more productive than two BQ-270s. Now we have ample excess capacity to do even more books due to the BQ-470’s speed and reliability.”
Since being established 22 years ago, Hume Intermedia has grown to attract a broad base of over 200 clients in a mix of markets, across Canada, the United States and Europe. In possessing a large stable of high volume digital presses, such as three Xerox iGen high speed four-color digital presses, two Xerox Nuvera 144s and one Nuvera 288 black-and-white digital production systems, a Canon PIXMA PRO9000 large-format inkjet printer, and two Heidelberg GTO offset presses, Hume lives up to its adage that “we can print and bind more color impressions or black-and-white impressions in 24 hours faster than almost all other printer in the country.”
“Every job we produce is done in-house,” says Hume. “Our clients rest easy in the knowledge all the work we create for them is printed, bound, mailed or distributed under one roof. We are far more efficient than most. Hey and we are east to get along with too.”
Hume adds that it is his firm’s loyalty to particular brands that kept them with Standard Horizon and KBR Graphics. “We have other Standard Horizon equipment in our bindery, such as an SPF-20A saddle-stitcher and an HT-30 on-demand automated book trimmer that are very reliable,” he says.
Hume was founded in March 1988 as a two-man copy shop, squeezed into 1,000 square feet of space. Since then, the 44-employee firm has evolved into Hume Intermedia Services Inc., one of Canada's largest producers of digital color and black-and-white print. The firm’s 30,000 sq ft comprise three separate facilities: a downtown studio in Toronto which houses Web hosting, design and creative studio and its large-format production; a warehouse for storage capacity in east-end Toronto; and, next door, the main plant with production, bindery and mailing facilities, along with administration and sales support. Hume’s depth of resources has established the firm as a “one-stop source” for its clients’ communications needs, from design to print and distribution.
With a tradition spanning over 30 years of dedicated sales and service support to the printing industry, KBR Graphics LTD. has evolved as a major supplier to the printing industry covering the provinces of Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces. The company offers a wide spectrum of graphic arts equipment including major manufacturers such as Standard Horizon finishing solutions, KBA offset presses, Perfecta cutting & paper handling systems, and MGI digital print & finishing solutions. KBR Graphics has locations in both Toronto and Montreal.
Related websites:

KBA and KBR Graphics Install Rapida 142 56” Six-Color Press at Boehmer Box

Canadian paperboard packaging specialist improves quick turnaround, efficiency, and makeready

Photo 1: Mark Caines, president and chief operating officer of Boehmer Box LP, says that his new KBA Rapida 142 56-inch six-color press will give his company the automation, fast make-ready, color fidelity, and ability to easily integrate with their robust prepress department as well as their unique FM6 expanded color printing technology.KBA North America, a global press manufacturer based in Dallas, Texas, announces that Boehmer Box, a specialist in the offset printing of paperboard packaging based in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, is installing a new Rapida 142 56-inch six-color sheetfed press with coating, which also includes KBA’s unique board package and is UV-prepped. The Rapida 142 was sold in cooperation with KBR Graphics Ltd., the central and eastern Canadian distributor for KBA North America.

“Over the past year, we have invested close to $10 million in our facility as we continued to post a 20% increase in sales,” says Mark Caines, president and chief operating officer of Boehmer Box LP. “Our new KBA Rapida 142 56-inch six-color press is an essential part of the investment. We needed a new press that would provide the automation, fast make-ready, color fidelity, and ability to easily integrate with our robust prepress department as well as our unique FM6 expanded color printing technology. Our plan is to run this press to capacity where it will be operating 24/7 along with our existing 56-inch press. We’ll be much more efficient in make-ready and turnaround times because our new KBA press is running 45% faster than the press it is replacing.”

The $10 million investment includes the new KBA Rapida 142 56-inch six-color sheetfed offset press, a new first-of-its-kind industrial full-color digital press, a new die cutting machine along with a new internal die-making facility, and a new prepress software platform. Caines’ vision is to have the new KBA press produce its leading high-end conventional paperboard packaging while the new digital press will produce shorter carton runs of under 5,000 copies, product samples, and promotional and test marketing kits.

“We experienced a 20% sales growth last year and we added 40 new employees,” says Caines. “We realized at that time that a new offset press was essential to keep up with capacity demands. Our reputation has been built on investing in new technology to differentiate us from our competitors.”

Boehmer’s customer base of leading food, beverage, and consumer packaged goods relies on high-energy color-critical graphics as a key component of their advertising medium to reach their customers. The trend has been towards a higher frequency of graphic changes on the package, says Caines, that result in a reduction in run lengths and the new equipment purchases effectively address this trend.

“Color and graphics are very important to our customers,” says Caines. “That’s why in 2006 we invested in new patented FM6 technology making us the only printer in North America with this process that reproduces the traditional Pantone spot color library in a single printing pass using CMYK, FM orange, FM blue and FM green. Due to this technology, we’re able to put 10 or 15 different boxes on one sheet and hit the color gamut for each customer. FM6 has become so popular that nearly 80% to 85% of our customers ask for it. In order to run it properly, we need a press like the KBA that has color control density technology.”

The KBA Densitronic Pro is a combined density and color measuring system for quality control both during and after printing. Unlike other systems, Densitronic Pro also permits direct measurements within the image. Deviations from defined target densities, color values and other quality parameters (dot gain, trapping, etc.) are recognized and displayed not only reliably, but also very quickly in comparison to hand-held measuring devices. With integration for online control, the density and spectral deviations are converted into corrective adjustments for the individual ink keys. The Densitronic Pro controls the density and spectral parameters of each sheet by measuring along control strips or directly on the image. In addition to its KBA Densitronic Pro technology, Boehmer’s new KBA Rapida 142 56-inch press is equipped with a full array of automation, including fully automatic plate changing, which changes all the plates on the press simultaneously, thus saving critical time. Caines is impressed with its top running speed of 15,000 sph and all of the top-flight automation that will reduce makeready.

Caines and his management team looked at other offset presses before choosing to purchase the KBA Rapida 142.  “KBA is the leader in presses for the packaging market,” says Caines. “Reliability and leadership were important when we made our choice. Our focus is to deliver value-added services to our clientele. They are under pressure to control their own costs and we help them by being more efficient ourselves. Our new KBA Rapida press with all of its automation and efficiency will be a key component for us to maintain our growth rate and momentum.”

Based in Kitchener, Ontario, Boehmer Box specializes in the offset printing of paperboard packaging for a wide range of leading food, beverage and consumer packaged goods that are sold coast to coast throughout Canada and into the United States. Its 270 employees are situated in a new 320,000 sq ft facility that has been optimized for efficient workflow. Boehmer Box, LYFT Visual, and board manufacturer, Strathcona Paper LP, make Canampac ULC, its Toronto-based parent company, one of the largest independent paperboard manufacturers specializing in private label food packaging.

KBA North America is a member of the KBA Group, a leading global supplier of sheetfed, webfed, and digital offset presses located in Dallas, Texas. KBA is dedicated to excellence in printing technology. The company’s greatest satisfaction comes from helping its customers succeed by building presses that enable their businesses to prosper. From engineering through production, KBA’s focus is on people, providing flexible technology, customized printing solutions, and personal service to help its partners differentiate themselves and be successful today and in the future.

Related websites:

www.kba.com

www.kbrgraphics.com

www.boehmerbox.com

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