Koenig & Bauer (US) has announced that its Rapida LiveApp has been selected by an independent panel of judges for the prestigious Printing Industries of America (PIA) 2018 InterTech Technology Award. The Rapida LiveApp, the first of its kind in the industry, was one of twelve of the 29 entries to be chosen to receive an InterTech Technology Award. It was deemed by the judges as meeting the award criteria of being truly innovative and expected to have a major impact on the graphic communications industry. The InterTech Technology Award will be presented before an audience of industry leaders during the 2018 Premier Print Awards and InterTech Technology Awards Reception & Ceremony, Sept. 30 at the J.W. Marriott in Chicago during the Print 18 trade fair.
“The Rapida LiveApp shows the power of apps to add value in the pressroom,” said Jim Workman, vice president of PIA’s Center for Technology and Research. “The judges found the entire app innovative, especially noting its ability to track and communicate maintenance issues and provide easy access to training resources.”
The Rapida LiveApp demonstrates how Koenig & Bauer Sheetfed embodies its corporate vision of setting industry standards in terms of customer focus, innovative solutions, and proactive services. The app provides printers with state-of-the-art tools for a wide range of sheetfed offset applications.
The Rapida LiveApp offers dual functionality. On the one hand, press operators can start or stop their Rapida sheetfed offset press from a mobile location, adjust settings and perform operational tasks as well as obtain information on press status and print jobs. The maintenance manager displays a list of pending maintenance tasks and simplifies these tasks by providing relevant instructions and videos. Successful maintenance can be confirmed and commented upon interactively.
On the other hand, the app includes a powerful tool for warehouse management and control, including batch recording and tracking. Inks, coatings and printing aids used can also be clearly assigned to the respective print jobs. Ordering processes are automatically triggered when minimum quantities are not met.
“We are honoured to be chosen for this prestigious award from PIA,” says Thomas Göcke, head of marketing and CRM at Koenig & Bauer Sheetfed. “With the Rapida LiveApp we are the first in the graphic arts industry to offer our users a completely new experience when it comes to the operation of sheetfed offset presses. We are delighted that print users and independent institutions appreciate this so much. It is truly an innovative operating concept.”
Eric Frank, senior vice president of marketing and product management at Koenig & Bauer (US) adds: “The special added value provided by the app lies in the mobile operation and the maintenance manager, which explains the necessary maintenance tasks step-by-step and documents these tasks at the same time.”
Project manager Stefan Singer, head of electrical engineering at Koenig & Bauer in Radebeul, is impressed by the success of the product: “It fills my colleagues and me with pride that the app is so well received by the industry.”
The Rapida LiveApp has also received several awards in Europe, including the German Design Award in the category “Excellent Communications Design – Apps” and the “automation award”. The InterTech Technology Award is the first prize in recognition of this pioneering operating philosophy for sheetfed offset presses in the U.S., from the world’s largest printing association.
Since 1978, the InterTech™ Technology Awards have honoured technologies predicted to shape the future of print and graphics communications. Past honorees have introduced entirely new products and services that have revolutionized ways of working and enabled printers to operate more efficiently.
Koenig & Bauer (US) is located in Dallas, Texas and a member of the Koenig & Bauer Group, which was established 200 years ago in Würzburg, Germany. Koenig & Bauer’s claim, “We’re on it.” gets to the heart of Koenig & Bauer’s values and competencies for all target groups. The group’s product range is the broadest in the industry; its portfolio includes sheetfed offset presses in all format classes, post press die-cutters, inkjet presses and systems, flexographic presses, commercial and newspaper web presses, corrugated presses, special presses for banknotes, securities, metal-decorating, smart cards, glass and plastic decorating.
