Sonderen Packaging invests in KBA Rapida

The Rapida 145 features a host of unique automated KBA technologies, including UV. It has been ordered through KBA North America and will be delivered sometime in the third quarter of this year.

Sonderen Packaging has made the purchase to replace an older non-KBA press with the new large format Rapida. Sonderen’s KBA Rapida 145 will be equipped with the latest technology including new automation such as the KBA SIS Sensoric sidelay-free in-feed, the CleanTronic UV system with a pivoting washing beam for washing of blankets and impression cylinders sequenced with plate changing, and additional parallel make-ready processes that contribute to significantly higher net production output.

Sonderen’s press is also equipped with the KBA QualiTronic ColorControl in-line color measurement and control camera system that monitors and maintains color consistency by taking a snapshot of every printed sheet.

Sonderen Packaging’s search for a new press began during a four-day trip to Germany to attend drupa 2012. While the team evaluated all of the 40 inch and large format presses on the show floor, they were most impressed with the KBA Rapida 145 press running at 17,000sph.

The company’s customer mix – from food manufacturers, pharmaceutical clients, confectionery and tea customers to those involved in the sporting goods and ammunition markets – will utilize the new KBA press’s high speeds and ability to quickly print different short-run jobs. The trend toward short-run, fast turn jobs is being keenly felt by Sonderen Packaging, in which products need to be printed with lots of different SKUs. Tea customers place print orders for different flavors and different quantities order-to-order, week-to-week, as an example.

Matt Sonderen, a principal and director of quality management at Sonderen Packaging, said: ‘While our competitors are being bought out by private equity firms, we proudly remain an independent family-run business that continues to re-invest in modern automated equipment and produce high-quality packaging for our clients.

‘Our advantage over our competitors has always been our flexibility, our quick turnarounds on short- and long-run jobs on short notice, and our dedication to serving our clients. The new KBA press will allow us to keep this advantage and expand our portfolio.’

Keva Sonderen, principal and director of marketing for Sonderen Packaging, said: ‘Our new KBA press will also give us the added benefit of UV ink and coating technology that we have never possessed before within our facility.

‘In the past, we sent those jobs out. Now we’ll be able to utilize the UV by offering a wider range of coating effects in addition to streamlining the flow through our plant, resulting in improved lead times.’

Pictured (from left): Keva Sonderen, principal and director of marketing at Sonderen Packaging; Mark Sonderen, Sonderen Packaging president; and Matt Sonderen, a principal and director of quality management at Sonderen Packaging