KBA North America

Foster, a trade printer based in Santa Ana, CA, has inaugurated its new 46,000-square-foot facility and started up its second KBA Rapida 162a 64" sheetfed press, a five-color conventional press that sits alongside its 2008-purchased KBA Rapida six-press with UV capabilities.

Commercial printing industry supplier company and personnel news from Printing Impressions’ February 2011 edition, highlighting KBA’s "Invitation to Innovation" open house.

As the floodwaters began to peak on that Monday afternoon, Marshall & Bruce’s facility had three feet of water in the plant that remained for 36 hours. More than seven months later, the company is almost back to normal.

More than 85 local Texas printers and suppliers were drawn to the “Invitation to Innovation” event held in conjunction with Printing & Imaging Association of MidAmerica. “This event was very well received and we enjoyed a positive turnout,” says Joe Polanco, president of PIA MidAmerica.

This will be the third KBA press run by the large sheetfed and web shop that provides printing and packaging for the high-tech telecommunications market in North America, South America, Central America, China and Europe. Ray Glenn Clark, president, sees an increased shift toward more sheetfed work in the future.

The over 6,000 sq. ft. facility, which is within 10 minutes of the Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport, provides efficient one-day demo and training seminars for busy printer customers. The new Customer Center features a partnership with ClimatePartner, as well as using “green” consumables, such as biodegradable shop cloths.

In the first nine months, group order intake jumped by 46.7 percent to €1.0 billion (2009: €682.3 million). The upturn in demand for printing presses that first became evident in March continued in the summer months. Group sales rose by 4.7 percent to €772.1m (2009: €737.3 million).

BA North America’s new KBA Service Select program is a complete line of customized service products designed to maximize the productivity and profitability of a customer’s KBA press. KBA will customize a program that meets the exact needs and budget of each and every customer—from a one-time press relocation to regularly-scheduled ongoing support.

“The four-day show drew an amazing, well-qualified crowd of printers who took an active interest in our press models and kept our sales force busy. We sold several presses in all size ranges, including the 81” Rapida 205, and we will soon be able to divulge their names to the public,” said Mark Hischar, president and CEO.

Those lithographic printers walking the show floor earlier this month at Graph Expo in search of a bevy of heavy-iron, offset presses were sorely disappointed. With press manufacturers Heidelberg USA, Komori America and Mitsubishi Lithographic Presses opting to pass on this year's show, the South Hall at McCormick Place lacked the all-encompassing lineup of traditional press vendors that visitors in years past have come to expect.