In its ongoing Koenig & Bauer Live event coinciding with the original dates for drupa 2020, the company has unveiled a new B1 press for the packaging and commercial markets, the Rapida 106 X. The K&B event is part of a series of virtual events that we are calling the zen drupa. The K&B Live streaming is showing and discussing the press K&B would have demonstrated at the postponed event. While the company has unveiled several products and technologies each working day last week and this week, it has also emphatically stated that it would take part in drupa 2021 on the new dates next June.
The Rapida 106 X was shown in a 7-color with double coater and an extra print unit configuration for packaging production earlier this week — a configuration that is becoming increasingly popular in monocarton packaging. An 8-color perfector with coater, for the commercial market, will be shown at the K&B Live event on Thursday, 25 June 2020. The Live events are at most 20 minutes and held three times a day, once in German and twice in English.
Rapida 106 X presses on sale from November
Both the Rapida 106 X presses will be on general sale from November. Koenig & Bauer says the new 106 X press is a fresh development from the ground up, with a rated speed of 20,000 sheets an hour, claiming it to be the “The fastest packaging sheetfed press on the market.” The automation is claimed to save 25 minutes for each job change and make-ready.
The Job Optimizer software connects the printer’s MIS systems with the Koenig & Bauer Logotronic press management system, managing to tweak yet more efficiencies out of the make-ready process. The new Rapida 106 X accepts unbent plates, doing away with another step in pre-press, and its simultaneous roller wash works for UV inks as well as conventional inks. Inks can be changed in less than two minutes, thanks to upgraded ink ducts.
The Rapida 106 X has a new black and grey design with side panels made of illuminated glass. There are a new touchscreen operating panel and a press status display panel at the delivery end. An app for mobile devices gives details on the current job and the next in line. There is a new cold foil module with more efficient foil saving technology.
The KBA Live stream will show the new Rapida 106 X for commercial applications today 25 June at 10 am (1:30 pm India time) 1 pm and 4 pm (7:30 pm India time). The 10 am and 4 pm live streams will be in English while the 1 pm stream is in German. Click here to register. https://www.koenig-bauer.com/en/live/
