Offset Printing
Em. de Jong boosts flexibility with high-automation KBA C48 SG
Friday 06. May 2011 - Successful debut by short-grain commercial press in the Netherlands
Following the delivery of a further 32pp KBA Compacta 408 and a 24pp Compacta 318 four years ago, Dutch web offset print major Koninklijke Drukkerij Em. de Jong has once again opted for new-generation KBA technology in the shape of a highly automated 48pp C48 SG (short grain) commercial press engineered for production flexibility and fast job changes. The fine performance of the new press, which came on stream a few weeks ago, vindicates KBAs ambitious engineering specifications.
Successful focus on retail trade
Founded in 1906 in Baarle-Nassau, near the Belgian border, Em. de Jong rapidly evolved into one of the biggest web offset print operations in Europe, largely by investing in advanced technology and enhancing process efficiency on an ongoing basis. The key to its success is a tight focus on printing for the retail trade, a sector of almost unparalleled diversity. As a result Em. de Jong has built up an equally diverse press fleet capable of addressing individual customer demands fast and at a fair price. Its assorted coldset and heatset presses for eight to eighty pages are almost all in KBA livery.
Speed, flexibility and cost efficiency are what count
The KBA C48 SG – the first of its kind worldwide – at Em. de Jong has a cylinder circumference of 890mm (35in), a maximum web width of 2060mm (81.1in) and a maximum rated output of 60,000iph. It is embedded in a Patras A automated reel-handling system that can prepare and buffer store six reels and transfer them to the Pastomat CL reelstand with no manual intervention. Like KBAs recently unveiled 16pp C16 web offset press the C48 SGs four double printing units have minigaps in the cylinders and KBAs patented automated RollerTronic roller locks, which deliver substantial savings in energy consumption and maintenance. The C48 SG is also the first KBA two-around commercial press to feature automatic pFor greater product flexibility the turner-bar superstructure and P5 gripper folder support the use of both ribbon and section stitcherslate changing: the 1.8m² (over 19ft²) plates can be changed in less than three minutes. Other features include KBA EasyTronic standardised pushbutton press start-up and run-down to minimise makeready times and waste, QuadTech register and density control, an Ecoset thermal dryer and a chain web-up system with web-up aid in the superstructure to guide the individual ribbons.
Extensive choice of products for advertisers
The superstructure allows up to six ribbons to be processed simultaneously, and in conjunction with two formers and two KBA ribbon stitchers supports an exceptionally broad choice of products, as does the P5 pin folder with section stitcher and two cross-fold deliveries. As a commercial printer Em. de Jong needs this flexibility in order to support the advertising activities of a highly discerning clientele by offering a huge choice of print products in every possible format plus an equally large choice of folds that will enable them to raise their profiles in a fiercely competitive market. Decision-makers at de Jong are convinced that only those with the ability to handle unusual jobs promptly and cheaply by automating extensively will emerge strengthened from the present structural turmoil in this sector. Which is why they have taken on board a highly advanced production management system, KBA LogoTronic Professional, which processes all job-specific presetting data, captures operating and machine data and networks all the companys KBA presses.