KBA describes its Rapida 75 as "the overnight success that was 200 years in the making". The press got its official launch at last year's Drupa exhibition and incorporates elements from earlier B2 models - the Rapida and Performa 74 presses, as well as technology borrowed from KBA's high-end 105 and 205 machines.
The 75 is manufactured at KBA's Czech subsidiary Grafitec. This is the same factory that used to make the Polly offset presses years ago, prior to KBA's purchase of the plant in 2005. However, this new Rapida is anything but a Polly in fresh feathers, as KBA UK managing director Christian Knapp asserts: "It really is a brand new design."
It effectively replaces the previous Rapida 74 model and is best suited to the typical requirements and budget of the average B2 printer. The 74 model that preceded it was, if anything, over-specified, with too many features that bumped up the cost, which meant it had limited mass-market appeal.
"What we have with the 75 is a lot of machine, for relatively little money," says Knapp. "It's a solid machine, with a decent level of automation and it's very affordable."
Simple but effective
There is no earth-shattering breakthrough technology or whizzy features contained within the Rapida 75's blue and white housing. Rather, it can be billed as a press that does what it says on the tin. As such, the firm is targeting its sales effort at the jobbing B2 market where printers need a versatile machine that can cope with a multitude of job types and stock changeovers.
Of additional appeal is its compact footprint and KBA's claim that power usage can be up to half that of some comparable presses. Features borrowed from its larger siblings include pneumatic sidelay, universal gripper system, plate cocking and clamping, and the DensiTronic quality control.
The 75 is available in configurations from two- to eight-colours, with perfecting available as an option. Also optional is a coating unit, which features the same chamber blade and exchangeable anilox roller combination as KBA's high-end large-format machines, and extended delivery.
UV is not included among the 75's configuration options and there's no 10-colour variant at present, which excludes KBA from a chunk of long perfecting sales. However, there's a hint that such a model could appear at some point in the future should demand prove persuasive. Nevertheless, Knapp and sales director Mark Nixon see a substantial potential market for the press in the bread and butter configuration of ‘five colours plus coating' that makes up approximately 50% of UK B2 press sales.
Size options
Two formats are offered: the standard model has a 530x750mm maximum sheet size, while a larger 605x750mm version is also available. KBA calculates that, for some common page formats, this larger version enables six-up layouts, or 50% more productivity, which could be an important differentiator for potential customers with the right work mix.
The press features double-circumference cylinders throughout and KBA claims "perfect" back-up when perfecting thanks to the three double-sized cylinders in the perfecting unit.
Sheet monitoring comes as standard and sheets are also completely printed before the transfer process. "Everything is double-circumference, so it's a shallow transfer and sheet travel," says Nixon, who also highlights the speedy, adjustment-free changeover between differing stock thicknesses as a major attraction in the jobbing market. There are no stock or speed limitations when in perfecting mode.
Maximum stock thickness is 0.6mm and, while some competing models handle marginally thicker stocks, KBA believes 0.6mm will be heavy enough for most requirements. It also expects the materials handling know-how that has been brought into the 75 from its large-format presses to prove attractive. Minimum sheet weight is 0.04mm.
The 75 has a maximum printing speed of 15,000sph and the operator runs the press from the ErgoTronic control console, which can store the parameters of up to 4,000 jobs. CIP4 interface links the press to pre-press data for job presets and there's also a USB port for job data transfer. An additional touchscreen control panel is located at the delivery end of the press, "reducing legwork" and allowing the press minder to easily make adjustments to settings, including register and inking. Axial, radial and diagonal registration adjustments are possible and Nixon cites the on-the-run diagonal adjustment made possible by skewing the transfer drums as one of the key elements of the press. "By adjusting it this way we don't mess about with the plate cylinders, so there's less stress on the printing and inking units," he says.
Automation features
Makeready functions include semi-automatic plate changing that takes less than a minute per unit and simultaneous wash-up for blanket and impression cylinders.
There are no installations in the UK just yet, although Nixon is confident of converting some hot prospects in the not-too-distant future. Two Rapida 75s are already installed in the Republic of Ireland, where KBA is experiencing something of a "domino effect" as word spreads among the print community and printers get to see the press in action for themselves. It's noteworthy that Irish customer Wood Printcraft chose to replace its two existing B2 Komori presses with one new Rapida 75.
It's a hugely competitive sector, of course, and the 75 is up against market leader Heidelberg with its established Speedmaster SM 74 and latest B2 model, the top-of-the-range XL 75. Other competitors include Komori, Ryobi and Manroland and so potential customers are spoilt for choice and have no shortage of options when they're looking to invest. Nixon admits that it's a challenge to get on the list, but one that he is relishing.
SPECIFICATIONS
Max sheet size 530x750mm (standard) 605x750mm (optional)
Min sheet size 330x330mm (350x330mm when perfecting)
Number of colours from two to eight, plus coating unit
Min/max substrate weight 0.04-0.6mm
Max speed 15,000 sheets per hour
Price from £425,000 for a five-colour base model, or £450,000 including automation
Contact KBA UK 01923 819922 www.kba-print.de/uk/home.html
THE ALTERNATIVES
HEIDELBERG SPEEDMASTER SM 74
Heidelberg's venerable B2 workhorse has been on the market for 15 years, proof of its enduring success.
Max/min sheet size 280x210mm/530x740mm
Max speed 15,000sph
Price five-colour with high-pile delivery £620,000
Contact Heidelberg UK 020 8490 3500 www.uk.heidelberg.com
KOMORI LITHRONE S29
Komori describes this press as "a major weapon in the fight for profitability for medium-format printers".
Max/min sheet size 200x280mm/530x750mm
Max speed 16,000sph
Price five-colour, mid-spec £570,000
Contact Komori UK 0113 279 9900 www.komori.com
MANROLAND R200
This is a B2 press the makes great play of its compact footprint - a four-colour model is less than 5.5m long.
Max/min sheet size 210x280mm/430x740mm
Max speed 13,000sph
Cost five-colour circa £480,000
Contact Manroland GB 020 8648 7090 www.manroland.co.uk
RYOBI 750
Has a retractable coater, which can be made ready while another job is printing, and a UV casting system.
Max/min sheet size 279x200mm/600x788mm
Max speed 15,000sph
Price five-colour with coater £570,000
Contact Apex Digital Graphics 01442 235 236 www.apexdigital.co.uk
SHINOHARA 75 SERIES
Slighty faster than the Rapida and slightly cheaper, the machine offers a good level of technology for a budget price.
Max/min sheet size 260x400mm/585x750mm
Max speed 17,000sph
Price four-colour mid-pile £290,000
Contact Shinohara UK 020 8991 6640 www.litho.co.uk
SAKURAI OLIVER 75 SERIES
Sakurai's offer runs at the same high speed as the KBA, but is more expensive and has a maximum of six colours.
Max sheet size 600x765mm
Max speed 15,000sph
Price five-colour £475,000
Contact Sakurai 020 8577 5672 www.sakurai.com
MITSUBISHI DIAMOND 1000
This machine is now being sold in the UK by GAE and is described as a popular B2 option.
Max sheet size 520x720mm
Max speed 16,000sph
Price five-colour with coater £540,000
Contact GAE 020 8997 8053 www.gae.co.uk
