Radebeul, Dobruška / A good four weeks after agreeing to purchase Grafitec, a Czech specialist manufacturer of multicolour SRA2 and B2 presses (Polly), KBA has virtually completed the company's integration into its sheetfed offset facility in Radebeul near Dresden, a facility that has seen vigorous organic growth over the past twelve years.

Now known as KBA-Grafitec s.r.o., the 400-employee subsidiary based in Dobruška (near Hradec Králové) is now being embedded in the group's global organisation, where its innovative technology and strong customer focus make it a neat fit.

Performa 66 and Performa 74 join KBA fleet

Grafitec's Polly presses have been renamed and their appearance aligned with that of KBA's existing range of SRA3 to VLF presses. The SRA2 model, which is a popular choice in eastern Europe, Turkey and the Americas, but is also selling well in western Europe (particularly Germany and Spain), has been redubbed KBA Performa 66 and is available in two- to five-colour versions with a control console for the remote adjustment of basic functions (with provision for CIP4 link) and the option of a perfector and/or dampener coater plus dryer in the delivery. Targeting small printshops, its 485 x 660mm (19" x 26") sheet size fills the slot between KBA's own small-format presses - the SRA3 46 Karat and B3 Genius 52 - and its half-format presses, which now number three.

The 520 x 740mm (20½" x 29") Polly Prestige 74 launched at Drupa 2004 is now called the KBA Performa 74. Solidly built and user-friendly (it can be operated from either side), it addresses the sizeable B2 commercial market and is a budget‑priced alternative to KBA's high-end Rapida 74, Rapida 74 G (Gravuflow) and DI offset 74 Karat. The Performa 74 has a maximum rated output of 13,000sph, can be configured with up to six printing units plus optional anilox coater (including overhead delivery extension with IR dryer package) and features semi-automatic plate changing supported by cutting-edge console technology with provision for integration in a JDF workflow. A major benefit compared to other presses for this format is that the sheets are guided via double-size impression and transfer cylinders. KBA sees a lot of potential for boosting sales of Performa 74 in high-growth developing markets and among small- to medium-scale commercial printers.

KBA Performa: the name says it all

Although KBA's existing range of Rapida presses for small, medium, large and superlarge formats is hugely popular among commercial, book and packaging printers the world over, the decision to expand downmarket was driven by a perceived need to cater to printers with a limited budget, a defined product spectrum and shorter or diminishing run lengths, who are a looking for a cheap but effective press with fewer extras in preference to a sophisticated, highly automated multi-unit press running at 15,000 or 18,000sph. KBA chose the new name to signal that performance and economy are not mutually exclusive.

Prior to the takeover KBA surveyed existing users of Grafitec presses and ran exhaustive print tests using various substrates. The verdict was that the presses are much more robust than some others in this price and format class. They are user-friendly, extremely reliable and deliver a Fogra-quality print on multicolour commercials and packaging. KBA has no immediate plans to modify the workings, focusing instead on optimising quality management and process technology.

First appearance as KBA enterprise at Poligrafia and EMBAX

KBA-Grafitec will make its first appearance as a KBA enterprise at Poligrafia 2005 from 19 to 22 April in Poznan (Poland), followed by a bigger showing, on its home terrain, at Embax Print in Brno from 17 to 20 May. Alongside a Performa 74 and a Performa 66, demos on the KBA-Grafitec stand at Embax will include a KBA Genius 52 and a 46 Karat.

The basic framework for realigning and expanding the sales and service organisation was defined at an agents' convention on 22 and 23 March in Dobruška. Key medium-term objectives are to ramp up Performa sales in existing markets, expand into new markets and grow KBA's share of the small-format sector.

KBA-Grafitec will continue to run sales and service activities for Performa presses in the Czech Republic and Poland, and existing Grafitec dealers will be retained in other key markets. In countries where Grafitec has little or no market presence, sales and service will be handled by KBA's own global network. Grafitec dealers will be integrated in the new organisation wherever possible (and logical). Further details will be published when negotiations have been concluded.

KBA-Grafitec will be headed by CEO Jens Junker, ex-managing director of Karat Digital Press and, more recently, sales director at KBA Radebeul. Grafitec production manager Lubos Moravec has been appointed COO and Jan Korenc remains as vice president sales and service.