At Drupa 2024, Kolbus presented the DA 160, a compact semi-automatic covermaker designed specifically for short and very short runs. Today, the first deliveries of this new model have been made. Unlike the DA 270, whose architecture it adopts, the DA 160 incorporates a matrix-less gluing system, making format changes considerably easier to manage.
The DA 160 covermaker was designed in response to changing production demands: lower volumes per order, shortage of skilled labor, constant quality requirements. It enables books to be produced from one copy upwards, even if actual volumes are often higher. The aim remains to lower the break-even point for customized production, without compromising quality.
The 160 DA folder-former operates at 20 cycles per minute, compared with 65 cycles per minute for its larger counterpart, the DA 270. But this difference is explained by a clear positioning: the folder-former is optimized for runs of up to 500 copies.
Job changeover operations are simple enough to keep overall productivity high. For the operator, handling remains fluid, thanks to a user interface reduced to the essentials and a matrix-free gluing system that eliminates time-consuming and repetitive set-up phases.
The DA 160 can handle flat rigid covers in formats ranging from 205 mm wide by 140 mm high up to 735 mm wide by 420 mm high, with board thickness ranging from 1 to 4 mm.
