Looking to expand its offering, KBA has signed a deal to supply CI flexo web presses for flexible packaging in Australia and New Zealand. KBA Australasia has signed a sales and service agreement with KBA-Flexotecnica in Italy. Dave Lewis, general manager of KBA Australasia, says, “Services for existing flexo customers are secured and we are able to strengthen our position in this growth market considerably. We have gained an experienced sales manager for the cutting-edge presses from KBA-Flexotecnica with Peter Stewart.â€
At drupa, from left: Andreas Friedrich, KBA China; Claudio Bisogni, CEO KBA-Flexotecnica; Dave Lewis and Peter Stewart KBA Australasia; and Stefan Segger, KBA AsiaPacific
The Italian KBA subsidiary based in Tavazzano, near Milan, develops and produces modern CI flexo web presses for printing on paper, film and other flexible packaging materials. Claudio Bisogni, managing director of KBA Flexotecnica, says, “With his longstanding experience and his contacts in the flexible packaging market, Peter Stewart will help us reach our ambitious targets.†KBA sees flexo and gravure as the highest growing packaging segment with an annual growth rate of 4-5 per cent flexible packaging produced predominantly with. The company says advancements in quality achieved with flexo presses through progress in prepress, printing formes (blocks, sleeves) and colour management in recent years, complements advnaces in environmental friendliness and the use of low-migration/migration-free inks. KBA says flexo has clear advantages over gravure through its lower usage of solvents and a new generation of water-based or radiation-curing inks for non-absorbent substrates.
KBA says the NEO XD prints various run lengths on film, paper, and board
At drupa, KBA-Flexotecnica demonstrated water-based inks with the new CI flexo web press, the Neo XD LR, a hybrid press engineered for handling water-based and solvent-based inks as well as radiation-curing UV-LED and EB ink systems. KBA says the NEO XD prints various run lengths on film, paper, and board with up to 12 print decks, offering print lengths up to 1200mm, print widths up to 1,650mm, speeds up to 55mpm and a new dryer generation.
