Amcor installs two 17-unit presses from KBA-Sheetfed

Since 2012, Amcor has successfully run the world's longest medium format press in a Rapida 106 with 19 printing and finishing units at its tobacco packaging manufacturing site in Rickenbach, Switzerland. KBA-Sheetfed has now delivered two further long Rapida 106 machines, each with 17 printing, coating and drying units, to Amcor Tobacco Packaging sites in Mexico and Poland.

Koenig & Bauer, the new name for KBA, said Amcor Tobacco Packaging is investing in particularly long presses as they allow for offset high-quality packaging printing with elaborate finishing to be produced in one run, making the process faster and more efficient.

The two Rapida 106-LTT+10+LTTL ALV3 are each 34m in length, and include a coating tower, two drying units, 10 printing units, double-coating equipment and triple delivery extension. Both machines are designed for a maximum production performance of 15,000 sheets per hour and are integrated in an automatic substrate logistics system. For a high level of finishing diversity, the printing and coating units are equipped for UV/mixed operation. IR/TL/UV systems are located in the drying towers and in the delivery extension. Both presses are prepared for the subsequent retrofitting of a ColdFoil Infigo SF 110 cold foil module. Other features include: DriveTronic SPC simultaneous plate changers, including DriveTronic Plate Ident; CleanTronic Synchro for parallel washing processes; QualiTronic Professional for in-line ink density control and sheet inspection; and the PPS system LogoTronic Professional. Emission extraction systems reduce the emission at the sheet delivery. Coated ink duct panels allow fast ink changes.

At the same time, the 19-unit Rapida 106 in Rickenbach, Switzerland, is receiving further automation modules so that it is on the same technical level with the two new presses in Poland and Mexico.

Delivery required 14 trucks and a total of 16 containers to the respective sites in Mexico and Poland.