Last week, three semi-trailers transported the new offset press to Imprimerie Tremouillat Fouquet (ITF), located near Le Mans in Mulsanne, Sarthe. Currently being installed, this 5-color plus varnish Koenig & Bauer press is replacing the 91-employee company's 2012 half-format press.
"Purpose-built to be showcased at Drupa 2020, this Rapida 76 offset press, which was delivered to us faster than a press to be manufactured, has all the options, says Gilles Fouquet, the head of ITF, which has a turnover of around 9 million euros. It even has the huge printed sheet counter that is emblematic of Drupa presses!"
The Sarthe printing company's offset press also has the particularity of being in American format. The maximum print size is 60.5 x 75 cm instead of the usual 53 x 75 cm.
"This extended format is adapted to the cardboard business. And since we also do packaging, we appreciate this specificity, which does not prevent us from printing in traditional format."
The design of the new Rapida 76 is a far cry from industrial codes
The design of the printing press is also remarkable. The new generation of Koenig & Bauer presses has been redesigned. Gray and blue have been replaced by glossy and matte blacks. "It is very beautiful! Black with rounded corners! You want to put your couch in front of the desk! Its design is a complete change from the industrial look of other machines."
The new generation of the Koenig & Bauer Rapida 76 is also equipped with many new features. "The DriveTronic SIS infeed has no side guides: the sheets are aligned at the beam. This allows for better paper stability and accuracy."
Simultaneous plate change allows for a plate change in less than a minute. "And on this press, we no longer have to do the offset plate bending. It's automatic." adds Gilles Fouquet.
"In fact, this new generation press is full of useful little tricks, notes the printer. For example, when you open a gate to access a group, a ramp of LEDs lights up. Drivers will no longer have to walk around with a lamp on them all the time. Koenig & Bauer has really hit the nail on the head in terms of aesthetics and practicality!"
