Press Release
KBA North America Inc.
Author_ / Coastline Public Relations / No._ / 0802-003Inquiries_ / Eric Frank / Date_ / February 5, 2008
Phone_ / 1-800-522-7521 / Release_
E-mail_ / / Pages_ / 2
Photographs_ / 1
Printco Graphics excels with new KBA Rapida 105 High Quality, Flexibility, and Consistency
Omaha, Nebraska printer broadens its customer base and differentiates itself
KBA North America in Williston, Vermont, is announcing that Printco Graphics Inc., one of the Midwest’s premier sheetfed printers, has elevated its production even higher with the installation last spring of a fully-automated new-generation KBA Rapida 105 41-inch six-color press with aqueous coater. In just seven months, the firm has posted 23 million impressions on the new press.
“Quality, consistency, and color are the three main reasons that our new KBA press is a huge draw with our customers,” says Larry Reding, Owner/President of Printco Graphics. “We’re bidding and winning work that we could never have produced before with our older presses. When customers come through on plant tours, they are thrilled at the high quality that the KBA can generate. Our new KBA has certainly set us apart from our competition.”
The KBA Rapida 105 installed at Printco Graphics in March 2007 features a long list of highly-automated features. These include the KBA Logotronic management system, the KBA Densitronic S scanning densitometer, and fully automated plate hanging and blanket washing.
Unique features only found on KBA
“There are a number of very unique features found only on a KBA press that drew us to partner with KBA for the first time,” says Reding. “Declutching of the roller units is a prominent feature found only on KBA presses. We’ve found that this feature produces less wear and tear on the press and saves us money on chemicals. Another feature is the variety of stock that can be printed on press; we’re using 45 pound offset to 48 pt board. Plus, all of the stand-out automation on this press has allowed us to drop our makeready times from over one hour on the older press to 15 minutes on the KBA thus allowing us to be more competitive in our bids and pass on the savings to our customers.”
The automation, reduction in makeready, and increase in throughput is allowing Printco to operate the new press 24/7 and add four press crews. While the new press replaced an existing five-color 40-inch from a different manufacturer, Printco plans in the future to implement another Rapida 105 due to the many efficiencies it has experienced.
Fastest press in the area
“The Rapida 105 sets Printco apart from its competition and gives us the fastest press in the Midwest region,” says Tracy Frank, Printco’s pressroom manager. “It is more versatile and opens up new markets that we couldn’t serve before. We’re adding poster and packaging work to our mix due to the Rapida’s ability to print on heavier board. Our mainstay work---short-run periodicals and magazines from 5,000 to 10,000 run length---is being produced faster and with more color consistency due to the new press.”
Printco Graphics Inc. was founded in 1993 as a commercial graphic studio and has grown to become one of the Midwest’s premier sheetfed printers. Since its inception Printco Graphics has more than doubled its customer base, as demand for the company’s commercial printing services has risen among businesses that are expanding. The company has 100 employees and operates three shifts per day, 24 hours a day, seven days a week in a 78,000 sq ft facility. Over 75% of Printco’s customers are out-of-state. The company specializes in producing promotional products, such as catalogs, magazines, fliers, postcards, mail services, and promotional items. Printco provides large and small volume printing and is a digital and variable data house. The company does a large volume of both beauty supply printing and perfect bound magazines for dog owners. Printco was honored as one of the 25 fastest growing firms in the state of Nebraska.
“As Printco grows, so have our customers,” says Reding. “I think the partnership we create with our customers is key to the growth we are experiencing.”
Related website:
www.printcographics.com
Photograph:
Photo 1: Larry Reding, (foreground) Owner/President of Printco Graphics, found that his new KBA Rapida 105 41-inch six-color press with aqueous coater gave his firm quality, consistency, and better color.