Focusing on ‘Products, practices, perspectives’, the new 52-page issue of the KBA Group’s customer magazine illuminates the company’s product and process innovations, along with user reports on plans, investments and business models for printers throughout the world. The topics covered are as wide-ranging as KBA’s own product spectrum, which ranges from offset printing on paper, board and metal, flexo printing on film, digital inkjet printing of books, décor and laminates to inkjet and laser coding blister and packaging for cosmetics.

The magazine also contains specialist articles, such as automation and process levels in industrial production or energy efficiency when printing.

In the editorial, KBA president and CEO Claus Bolza-Schünemann pointed out that the increasing digitalisation of our lives also creates new markets for print. “Popular photo books and the raft of other individual print products have only become affordable by internet ordering platforms or digital production techniques and thus, create additional print volumes. The trend towards the individual design of decorative articles, textiles and clothing has had the same effect. Future-focused topics, such as electronics or 3D printing, are good for our industry and will continue to become more relevant as technology advances,” he said.

Bolza-Schünemann said the growth market for packaging is receiving extra momentum from consumers’ demands for more visually challenging products and the booming eCommerce business. “Packaging of the future will be even more personalised thanks to digital technologies, more exclusive due to sophisticated finishing and even more intelligent thanks to the application of electronic modules – a huge playground for innovation,” he said.

In recent months, the global print market has experienced a considerable upturn. According to the VDMA (German Machinery and Plant Manufacturers’ Association), in the first half-year 2015, order intake for German printing equipment was up 12% on the previous year. In this, KBA Group posted a 33% rise in incoming orders to over USD 674 million.

Since 1 July 2015, Koenig & Bauer AG in Würzburg has functioned as a holding of the KBA Group. KBA-Sheetfed Solutions in Radebeul operates our sheetfed offset business and KBA-Digital & Web Solutions in Würzburg serves the digital and web press market. KBA-Industrial Solutions in Würzburg and Radebeul has also been restructured into a production company for internal and external customers.

Among other things, the KBA report contains discussions on topics such as, how KBA Sheetfed Solutions is on the path to the ‘Internet of Things’; how the new KBA Rapida 105 PRO offers more automation; how LED-UV innovation is impacting sheetfed offset; how KBA can help make superior carton packaging for point of sale; how KBA TouchTronic makes the printing process even more intuitive and a case study how the Rapida 145 helps a folding carton producer expand in top quality segment.

The latest KBA Report is available in German, English, French, Spanish and Italian. An online version of the magazine is also available for download from the KBA website.