Koenig & Bauer integrates Instrument Flight technology into its Rapida sheetfed offset presses, with a direct impact on production: reduced makeready times, color retention over time and fewer adjustments during the print run, even in the event of paper or ink variations.
At the end of 2025, the German manufacturer took over the activities associated with this technology, developed by Swiss company System Brunner. Previously offered as an OEM product, it is now integrated into Koenig & Bauer's portfolio of inline measurement systems for offset presses.
Regulation extended to overprints
Sheetfed offset color control systems are mainly based on measuring ink densities. Instrument Flight adds further parameters by integrating overprint and gray balance analysis into color control.
This approach brings machine control closer to visual rendering. The system detects deviations not identified by densities alone and automatically adjusts variations linked to paper, ink or fount solution, facilitating compliance with PSO, Fogra or G7 standards.
For users, the first good sheet is much faster and reduces waste. In production, colorimetric stability limits the need for in-process corrections. Deviations are continuously compensated for, reducing interruptions and operator intervention.
Complete integration into the press environment
Instrument Flight is directly integrated into the Rapida press interface. The press operator has a simplified readout via the Instrument Flight Star System evaluation system, which enables compliance levels to be monitored in real time.
Koenig & Bauer now provides development, support and training for this technology, while System Brunner remains involved in technical developments.
