News of the joint endeavour follows the announcement that the first of two KBA Compacta presses to be installed at Quebecor’s Corby site is now in full production.

Quebecor sales and marketing director Angus Jurkschat said of the new 72pp press: “It’s a bit like a racing car in that it’s limited so that it can’t go faster than 43,500 copies per hour.

“We’re working with KBA to increase that, probably in a couple of steps, up to 50,000 copies per hour. We are the first in my understanding to do that.”

The firm is now awaiting board approval before installing its second Compacta 818.

Corby’s investment in new kit is part of Quebecor World’s European retooling plan, which is aimed at improving efficiencies and is expected to complete before the third quarter of this year.

In 2006 accounts published two weeks ago, the Canadian-owned firm revealed a 3.4% year-on-year drop in European revenues in the fourth quarter of 2006 to £140m ($267.3m). Annual European revenues were also down 11.8%  in 2005.

Quebecor attributed the fall in sales to reduced volumes, mainly in France and the UK. Jurkschat said market conditions remained difficult in the UK, but added: “I think there is a sense of realisation now that prices can’t get any lower.”

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QUEBECOR'S KBA COMPACTA 818
• Four high-speed printing units with semi-automatic plate changers
• Drivetronic individual drives with no longitudinal shaft
• Patras fully automatic reel supply system
• Pastomat RC reel splicer
• High-speed variable gripper folder P5
• Megtec 17m-long hot air dryer