PERFORMA

In the middle of October, the KBA Performa 74 sheet- fed offset press was installed in the Poznan based company, Polygrafie Fabisiak. The new "blue" series was only put on sale a few months ago and the press, for which the purchase contract was signed at the Polygrafia exhibition in Poznan, has replaced a veteran two colour press, which also came from the Dobruška Company.

Polygrafie Fabisiak is a typical family run printshop which was founded in 1989 and employs just a few people. Until recently the company rented 70 m2 of space in a Poznan housing development and now has just moved into their new spacious premises. The new address also meant investment into new workshop machinery, one the most important being the 5-colour press Performa 74-5 FL completed with the dampener coater produced by KBA-Grafitec. This purchase means a big step forward in productivity and quality for the Poznan printshop. Mr. Miroslav Fabisiak, the company owner, said "So far we have been working with a 2-colour press in the A2 format so therefore the current investment into a 5-colour press represents significant progress for our company. I mean that, above all, the great productivity increase in multicolour production which can now be done in one passage instead of two. Also significant is a bigger printing format - whole B2 - then in our production so far. Another advantage is the chance to print the fifth, special colour or varnishing. Both functions are suitable for our company profile which forms mainly print materials (leaflets, brochures etc.) and packaging".

The machine installed in the Poznan based company was configured according to the special wishes of Mr. Fabisiak. This press offers generous standard features which in addition to others include the automatic press and ink roller washer, double diameter impression and transfer cylinders set for " seven o'clock".

Also, the remote control panel, GrafiControl, allows remote control of the register and the inking roll as well as the speed of the ductors, densitometer, the high pile feeder and the ultrasonic sensor two sheet detector. Mr Fabisiak pointed out the frequency of functions ordered as part of the additional kit "Besides the standard functions, our press is equipped with the system of semi-automatic plate settings including cocking, control of the side lay, IR dryer, sensors for sheet presence on the impression cylinders and an additional sensor for two sheet detector. All this creates a machine of a very high standard". The press, just like other machines of the Performa 74 series, offers a printing speed of 13 000 sheets/ an hour, maximum sheet format SRB2 (520 x 740 mm), maximum printing format 510 x 735 mm and the possibility to print on paper of 0,05 to 0,6 mm thick.

"Taking into consideration other machines that are currently available on the market, I am convinced that we made the best decision in relation to quality and price" added Mr. Fabisiak. "Regarding quality of printing, the Performa 74 keeps up with equipment from German or Japanese companies and the price is more attractive. An important fact is that this press is one of the first "blue" series machines in Poland, produced based on the mutual experiences of the KBA and Grafitec companies. Other positives were the close proximity of the service centre in Dobruška, near the border (in the event of a technical fault, it is possible to receive a spare part within just a few hours) and also the two year warranty, which is not provided by other suppliers.

Mr. Fabisiak is also convinced that new investment in technology, besides the purchase of the printing press which will also include the purchase of the pare-cutter from the Polar Company, allows service improvement for both current and future customers: "Our previous possibilities were too limited. Today, when the 5-colour press is available, we can service our current customers without any fear and also accept new ones. We are talking about not just orders from Poland but also from abroad. We have recently started cooperation with a new client from Germany which we are hoping to maintain and develop due to the new investment made into printing and book-binding equipment."