Philipp Lithographing Adding a Third KBA Rapida Large-Format Sheetfed Press

Of specific interest was the Rapida 145’s extremely fast makeready, minimal makeready sheets, fast running speeds, and the KBA QualiTronic color control, which scans the sheets in the press while running and automatically adjusts density. Furthermore, the overall press size fits nicely within the company’s 55,000-sq.ft. plant and the maximum sheet size of 41x57˝ will accommodate much of Philipp’s work currently being run on the 64˝ press.

“We applaud Philipp Litho for taking the initiative to invest in this “Step-Change Technology”, says Steve Korn, KBA director of national and key accounts. “This capital investment will yield the benefits of expedited job to job change-over and higher throughput at lower operating costs and it will quite simply provide Philipp Litho with a competitive edge in the marketplace for many, many years to come.”

Philipp Litho has built a solid customer base in the large-format market providing printed sheets for the point-of-purchase (POP) display industry and top sheets and litho labels for the corrugated industry. Buening says the point-of-purchase market is growing and is relatively unaffected by offshore manufacturing. He finds that many corrugated companies have moved into the POP display market because it lends itself to their food and consumer product clients.

“As always, marketing allows little time for production, so lead times are very short,” notes Buening. “It is not uncommon for us to receive files in the morning from a client, get a proof out later that day, be on press with their job the next day, and ship a few hours later.” T