Newspaper press manufacturer KBA is now supplying Kodak variable data inkjet print heads to retrofit on its range of presses.
Created for users of older newspaper presses with low levels of automation and long makeready processes, the retrofitting of an inkjet system brings new possibilities, says KBA.
According to the company many older KBA Journal, Colora, Express and Commander presses are still delivering good print quality in production all over the world, They are nevertheless often unable to keep pace with today's demands in respect of makeready for ever smaller part editions, and must consequently yield to presses of the latest generation with automatic plate changing and diverse control and software modules for optimised, time- and waste-saving start-up and run-down.
However KBA says that with an inkjet imprinting system it becomes possible to produce title pages with corresponding regional headlines and content indexes both flexibly and without additional waste.
The imprinting system preferred by Kodak for this purpose – Prosper S30 – features a maximum print resolution of 600 x 200 dpi and can imprint variable data at web speeds up to 15 m/s. Optimum positioning of the print heads in the superstructure, the exact clearance between print heads and paper web, and precise setting of the web tension and cut-off register are routine tasks for a press manufacturer with the competence of KBA.
KBA has a long pedigree in inkjet printing on its web presses, readers with long memories may recall at the drupa 95 of 18 years ago KBA demonstrated highly personalised newspaper production with Scitex inkjet heads in the superstructure of an Express offset press.
A different cartoon was printed on each front page at a slightly reduced production speed. Scitex was later renamed Kodak Versamark. Given the enormous advances in inkjet technology and current developments on the newspaper market, this form of hybrid print is today more attractive than ever.
The inkjet technology has developed further in the meantime and KBA has gained extensive experience with a diversity of applications, the latest being the high-volume digital web press RotaJET 76.
KBA says variable imprints boost newspaper attractiveness for the reader and at the same time offer publishers additional design options. Targeted advertising, regionalisation, reader promotions such as prize draws, or even the possibility to update individual news blocks after production begins (for example the latest results from elections or football matches) are just a few of the many ways to offer added value in terms of up-to-date information and reader benefit.
In the next few weeks KBA will be installing eleven Kodak Prosper inkjet systems on KBA presses used by contractor printers of the Axel Springer group at seven locations in Germany. The retrofits are to be completed by July, without disturbing daily production to any mentionable degree. The KBA technicians are also able to retrofit inkjet systems to newspaper and commercial web presses from other manufacturers.
