KBA Australasia is now headed by Stefan Segger, managing director of KBA Asia Pacific and KBA sales director for the Far East.
Local general manager sheetfed, Dave Lewis, becomes a director, and will now run the Australian business on a day to day basis, in addition to retaining his responsibility for sheetfed sales.
Heatset and coldest web sales will be handled by well known KBA identity NL Chin, managing director of the KL office, who will be introducing himself to those that don't know him at the Swug conference this weekend. In addition the company is looking to add to its service staff, is looking to recruit sales staff, and is opening a Melbourne office.
Lewis says, "Our customers will benefit from closer ties between KBA Australasia and the parent company through the new restructure, with Stefan Segger providing a direct personal link. We will also be opening up a Melbourne centre, with spare parts. This restructuring highlights KBA's commitment to the Australian market into which we are continuing to expand."
KBA Australasia's board of directors will comprise David Lewis (general manager, sheetfed), Stefan Segger, Christoph Müller (executive vice-president for web press sales, service and marketing, KBA) and German Stuis (head of controlling, KBA). Former managing director Walter Schumacher is no longer with the company.
Since it established itself in Australia as a direct subsidiary some five years ago sales have exceeded KBA's expectations every year, with the company racking up a host of sheetfed and web press orders. The company has just signed a new order from a packaging company for a Rapida 162, with Lewis expecting two or three more sheetfed orders before the end of the year.
Its biggest installation to date has been a KBA Colora press line and KBA Comet semi-commercial web press with a total of 192 printing couples, six folders and AGV-supported reel logistics at West Australian Newspapers in Perth.
KBA's biggest sheetfed press has gone to Anzpac in Sydney, which at the time of its installation two years ago was the world's longest sheetfed offset press, at more than 40 metres. The size 6 (55in) Rapida 142 behemoth comprises eight units, three dryers, autoconvertible perfecting, a triple delivery extension and automated pile logistics, adding up to with 13 units in total.
