Offset Printing
L.N. Schaffrath orders new commercial press from KBA
Thursday 04. February 2010 - Cutting-edge 16pp web technology for Geldern
Bucking the recession, major German media provider L.N. Schaffrath in Geldern am Niederrhein recently signed up for a capacity- and productivity-boosting 16pp commercial web offset press from KBA. Schaffrath, whose customers include a raft of prominent publishing houses, offers a complete range of services from concept, design and layout to print production and distribution.
At present its primary focus is on periodicals, magazines and supplements, but it is keen to expand its offerings still further. The new press line will join a fleet of web and sheetfed presses in a modern, well-equipped production plant.
Founded over 250 years ago in 1743, Schaffrath employs some 300 staff and in 2009 posted sales exceeding 43m ($60m). Also known in the trade as Schaffrath DruckMedien, the company is owned jointly by Dr Alex and Klaus Schaffrath and their respective families in Geldern and publishing houses Deutscher Ärzte-Verlag in Cologne and Rheinische Post Verlagsgesellschaft in Düsseldorf.
Automation from paper logistics to folder
The press line will comprise four double printing units with a 620mm (24.5in) cut-off and a maximum web width of 1000mm (39.37in). Its advanced level of automation will extend from reel logistics with KBA Patras A, including reel loading and reel-stub ejection in the Pastomat C reelstand, to plate changing with PlateTronic and fast conversion of the P3 folder to support high-speed job changes. The infeed unit with its environmentally friendly regenerative braking system will be integrated in the reelstand to save space. Shaftless drives throughout will ease operation and trim makeready times. Other kit will include closed-loop colorimetry, cut-off register controls and a Contiweb hot-air dryer.
The press will be controlled from a KBA ErgoTronic console, with a convenient operating display panel at the folder. LogoTronic Professional production management software will capture and store operating and job data for press preset and rapid conversion to both new and repeat jobs. KBA EasyTronic and its one-button control will shorten start-up and slowdown times while minimising waste.