UK national sales manager Gary Doman said five companies, one of which was an existing 900 user, had already shown an interest in buying the press.

Most of the interested companies were specialist carton board producers, but one included a commercial printer, he said.

The press is already being beta tested at sites in Germany and Europe, but not the UK, and will not be ready for delivery in the next 12 months.

What KBA did was capitalise on an area we had no answer to. Clearly we now want a piece of the action, he said.

The Roland 900 in format 8 can print at up to 10,000 sheets per hour, and has a maximum sheet size of 1,300x1,850mm.

The 900 XXL range already includes size 7 and 7B presses.

Story by Andy Scott

Picture: 900 XXL - challenge to KBA