Dobruška / On the final day of Print 05 in Chicago, KBA North America looks back on a string of contracts for new and established products, with more projects pending.

Alongside a Rapida 142 size 6 (56in) press, which printed high-quality images on paper and board at up to 15,300 sheets per hour, the focus on KBA’s attractive and well-frequented stand was on its revamped Rapida 105 – the only 18,000sph B1 (41in) press on the market with perfecting and inline coating capabilities. Various configurations have already come on stream at North American commercial and packaging printers. There was a lot of interest in press lines with as many as 14 units to support a growing trend in the USA towards high-quality inline finishing.

A first-time KBA exhibit in the US was the Performa 74, a B2 press manufactured by KBA’s new Czech subsidiary, KBA-Grafitec, for small to mid-size print operations with limited investment budgets. Several contracts were inked for configurations with up to six units plus coater. KBA-Metronic’s Genius 52, an ultra-compact B3 (20in) press for UV production, drew a big crowd and a number of buyers, most of whom will use it to print cards and lenticular images on plastic film, which was what the press in Chicago demonstrated.

KBA also booked orders for its 74 Karat, a DI offset press which has already clocked up more than 50 installations in the USA. Rounding off the demos was a JDF workflow for Rapida presses incorporating management information systems from KBA (Logotronic Professional) and North America’s leading provider, EFI.

Although the Print trade fair has not evolved beyond a regional, or at most a North American, event and cannot compare with Drupa or Ipex for international appeal, KBA is pleased with the volume of business it has generated. The general consensus at the show was that the North American print industry is finally experiencing an upturn following a long, dry spell, and that printers are once again willing to invest in innovative technology. The following photos convey a good impression of the bustling atmosphere.

KBA’s size 6 (56in) Rapida 142 – a popular choice in the USA and Canada – attained an output of 15,300 sheets per hour at the show

A first-time KBA exhibit in the US, the Performa 74 B2 (29in) press manufactured by Czech subsidiary KBA-Grafitec, attracted several orders

Rising demand for its high-tech presses has enabled KBA to move up to second place in the US sheetfed offset market