Norwegian package printer invests to evolve

Norwegian packaging printer Trondhjems Eskefabrikk is looking to further modernize its equipment to provide customers with cutting edge printing technology.
 
The company is scheduled to replace a cutter it bought in 2001 next year, which will see its oldest equipment dating back to 2007; a KBA Rapida 105 coater press, which recently had its performance level upgraded. In January this year, the company installed and begun working with a six-color KBA Rapida 106 in double coater configuration (pictured, below).
 
Owner Tore Brekke Olsen (pictured, top – second left) said: ‘The new press offers maximum efficiency with regard to ease of operation and quality assurance. It incorporates all but a few of the automation components currently available. The console is a very convenient workplace for the operator. And ErgoTronic ACR, QualiTronic colour control, DensiTronic and LogoTronic Professional are guarantees for perfect production processes. ’
 
Trondhjems Eskefabrikk started life producing office folders and protective wrappings for textiles in 1934. After three relocations and several upgrades, especially under the management of Henry Olav and Ellen Brekke Olsen in the 1960s, Trondhjems Eske & Mappefabrikk grew quickly and gradually shifted its focus to packaging printing. The first steps were taken with a flexo press, and then from 1970 with a single-color offset press from Planeta.

 
In 1987, the company moved to 59,200 sq ft (5,500 sq m) premises on an industrial estate in Tiller. Brothers Tore and Lars Brekke Olsen have since built up a modern, full-service provider using the latest pre-press, print and conversion technologies to serve a host of prominent packaging customers. Today, around 85 per cent of Trondhjems Eskefabrikk’s output is for the food industry. The 24 employees generated sales worth €12 million in 2011; 10 percent of production is exported to Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Russia and the Baltic states.

'In response to wishes expressed by several major customers, however, the new Rapida 106 is the first to feature two coaters plus interdeck and end-of-press dryers'

 
Since the 1970s, Trondhjems Eskefabrikk has formed a relationship with KBA. Tore Brekke Olsen sees the trustful cooperation with KBA as a strong basis for its development. ‘In the same way that our parents forged a long-term relationship with Planeta, my brother and I believe in continuity and our success with the modern Rapida presses from KBA,' he said.
 
‘We have faith in the innovative technology and are likewise convinced by KBA as a company. Customer service takes pride of place and has been exemplary through all our projects to date. That applies equally to press commissioning, training, maintenance and spare parts.
 
‘Already in the Planeta years, presses from Radebeul stood for quality, reliability and substrate flexibility. And nothing has changed in that respect through to the present day. The first six-color Rapida 105 installed in 1998 lent an enormous boost to our productivity; it replaced a two-color and two five-color presses. The modern Rapidas are much faster still, both in production and during job changeovers. Ease of operation has also reached a new level. We can today print at 18,000sph, our make-ready time is minimal thanks to the automatic plate changers and we handle substrates from 200 to 800gsm. The average run length lies between 40,000 and 50,000 copies, but we can print efficiently for both long and short runs.’
 
Trondhjems Eskefabrikk has installed four Rapidas from the 105 and 106 series from 1998 to 2012. One aspect common to all these presses is that they are all six-color configurations with in-line coating and CX board handling capabilities. Olsen says: ‘This standard configuration simply matches our production conditions best. In response to wishes expressed by several major customers, however, the new Rapida 106 is the first to feature two coaters plus interdeck and end-of-press dryers.
 
‘This enables us to use both conventional and UV coatings, and offer a variety of special effects for more luxurious packaging. Being a hybrid press, the single-coater Rapida 105 we bought in 2004 already offered us many such refined finishing options.’
 
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