KBA  drying  appointments 
Sydney-based Anzpac Services has rewritten the history books, signing a contract with press manufacturer KBA in mid-March for a 12,000sph size 6 (55in) Rapida 142. This printing behemoth comprises of eight units, three dryers, autoconvertible perfecting, a triple delivery extension and automated pile logistics. Extending 40 metres with 13 units in total it will be the longest sheetfed offset press worldwide. Management opted for the Rapida 142 following an exhaustive tour of European packaging plants. The new press, which is slated to ship in October, will enable the company to trim costs by streamlining its production flow with such inclusions as inline perfecting and perfect coating. The press will be installed late in the second half of the year.

KBA Australasia was not willing to comment on the configuration and specifications of the press, but one look at the computer-generated image of the press makes it clear to see that this is no ordinary sheetfed press. Geoff Boshell, Anzpac general manager was also unwilling to comment at this time as the press was still a long way off from being installed, let alone operational.

Dave Lewis, KBA Australasia general manager for sheetfed presses, says, "This is wonderful news for Australia, Anzpac and KBA Australasia".

Established in 1900, Anzpac has evolved from a family-owned firm into one of Australia’s premier manufacturers of high-volume folding carton packaging. In 1986 it was purchased by Rothmans Holdings and is now the printing and packaging arm of British American Tobacco Australasia. The company also supplies packaging for leading brands of fast food, confectionery, medical diagnostics, fabric care and bakery products.

Anzpac was one of the first packaging companies in Australia to attain ISO 14001 environmental accreditation which compliments Anzpac’s existing ISO 9001 and HACCP accreditations. Year for year it recycles some 2300 tonnes of board, plastic and liquid waste.