KBA Reports Strong Performance at drupa 2012

DALLAS—June 26, 2012—KBA North America, as well as its parent company, Koenig & Bauer AG (KBA), posted strong performances at drupa 2012, the world’s leading trade fair for the print media industry that took place in May. Contracts worth well over one hundred million euros were signed at the fair in Düsseldorf, Germany—most of them for sheetfed offset presses. Post-drupa business continues to be brisk. The total value of all orders taken at drupa was far higher than anticipated and contracts were signed with both existing and new customers.

“We’re very pleased with the North American traffic that visited our booth at drupa,” says Mark Hischar, president and CEO of KBA North America. “During the 14-day fair in May, we had significant discussions with high level executives from commercial print shops and packaging firms that elicited press sales. The high number of attendees to visit us as well as the quality of decision-makers provided meaningful dialogues that led to firm sales orders. Indeed, drupa exceeded all of our expectations.”

During the show, KBA North America hosted a number of associations and their members including the Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC) and many others.

KBA has remained strong over the past years due to its promising new business lines and markets. At drupa, KBA demonstrated its prowess in these areas. One of the most highly-anticipated debuts for KBA was its entry into high-volume digital print with the KBA RotaJET 76, an inkjet web press launched to great acclaim at drupa 2012. It will initially target printers of books, brochures, commercials, direct mail and magazines. One of the biggest attractions on the KBA stand was the brand-new Rapida 145—the most powerful litho press at the show and the biggest format. The world makeready champion, the Rapida 106 41" press, which was exhibited as a 12-unit configuration with an output of 18,000 sph in four-over-four with perfecting coating and ultra-fast job changes, stunned the audience.

Small-scale printers were drawn to KBA’s new, 18,000 sph 29" Rapida 76 with dedicated plate-cylinder drives. Producers of flexible packaging were particularly interested in the new Varius 80 variable-format web offset press from KBA-MePrint. KBA believes this press has enormous potential thanks to its superior cost efficiency and quality compared to comparable flexo and conventional offset presses. The same applies to the Commander CL (newspaper) and C16 (commercial) web press sections exhibited, which were acclaimed by print professionals visiting the stand. The RotaJET 76 launched at drupa was also a further focus of keen interest on the KBA stand, and the first contracts for this inkjet web press are expected shortly.

About KBA North America
KBA North America is located in Dallas, and a member of the KBA Group. Established almost 200 years ago in Wuerzburg, Germany, Koenig & Bauer AG (KBA) is the oldest and second largest press manufacturer worldwide. KBA's banner, 'People & Print', reflects its dual focus as a leading innovator for print entrepreneurs. The group's product range is the broadest in the industry; its portfolio includes commercial and newspaper web presses, sheetfed offset presses in all format classes, inkjet systems and presses, special presses for banknotes, securities, metal-decorating, smart cards and discs. For more information visit the company's Website at www.kba.com.

Source: KBA.