"The days of B2 compromises are over" says Markus Weiß, CEO of Koenig & Bauer Paper & Packaging Sheetfed Systems. In his view, the Rapida 76 offset press condenses the technical performance of the Rapida 106 into a more compact format. This strategy was the focus of the Open House held at the Packaging Competence Center in Radebeul, Germany.
Koenig & Bauer presented this B2 sheetfed offset press to an audience of around one hundred professionals from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and other European countries, as a solution capable of handling both classic commercial jobs and printing on solid board up to 1 mm thick.
During the demonstrations, the machine, which incorporates many modules from the Rapida 106, successively handled three types of job: a commercial job on offset paper, a label on coated stock and a high-end cardboard fold. Its footprint, smaller than that of comparable B2 equipment, was also highlighted.
Feedback: 19 job changes a day
Matthias Herrmann, head of German printing company Schmidt & Buchta, has been using a Rapida 76 since 2019. He recalls an average of 19 job changes a day, in a demanding production environment.
For his part, Oscar Pepermans, head of Rutgers Printing & Packaging based in the Netherlands, believes that the machine installed in mid-2024 has enabled a clear gain in competitiveness.
Kurt Schergen, Production Manager at Druckhaus Wittich KG in Germany, says he left a rival manufacturer to join Koenig & Bauer. In his opinion, the decisive factor was both the technical level and the support offered by the local teams.
Premium packaging and commercial printing: the same tool
Then, to illustrate the complementary nature of printing and converting, guests were able to watch a folder printed on the Rapida 76 and converted on a Koenig & Bauer Iberica flat-bed diecutter, the Ipress 106 PRO SB. The aim of the demonstration was to show how commercial printers can integrate carton converting jobs without disrupting the process.
Finishing modules such as double varnish units and cold foil stamping, taken directly from the 106 format, are also available on the Rapida 76.
Koenig & Bauer's "Royal Class" in B2 format
Markus Weiß, CEO of Koenig & Bauer Paper & Packaging Sheetfed Systems, said: " We have consistently transposed the proven high-end technology of our Rapida 106, the 'Royal Class', to this format. The result is a press that puts an end to constrained choice in this segment: user feedback citing up to 19 job changes a day proves its effectiveness in commercial printing."
The head of the paper and packaging division continues: "At the same time, the robust platform inherited from the Rapida 106 gives it the stability it needs to handle 1.0 mm board for the premium packaging market without difficulty. The enthusiasm expressed by our customers, who confirm this versatility in practice or deliberately choose our combination of technology and support, shows that we're on the right track."
