It seems that the pandemic did not suppress Koenig and Bauer’s appetite to roll out new sheetfed presses. A new generation of the Rapida 76 from Koenig & Bauer has just been released onto the market. The B2 press (standard sheet format 530 x 750 mm; special format 605 x 750 mm) boasts high level of automation, a minimal footprint and peak printing speeds of up to 18,000 sheets per hour. The appearance of the machine is completely revamped and resembles its bigger B1 brother.
Key features of the new machine include DriveTronic dedicated drive components, which eliminate gear systems and provide for both simple handling and parallel processes during job changeovers and make-ready. The full preset capabilities as well as ErgoTronic console with wallscreen.
It’s all about configuration
To cater for as many different applications as possible, up to 11 printing and finishing units can be combined to configure a Rapida 76 which is tailored precisely to individual production needs. That could mean a ten-colour press with an automatically convertible perfecting unit for 5-over-5 production – possibly together with an additional coating tower to allow the printing of covers, for example – or packaging presses with double-coating facilities for the production of pharmaceutical packaging and the like. Further variants incorporate raised foundations to accommodate higher piles with board substrates, or various delivery extensions for coating applications. Ink duct dividers can also be chosen to enable rainbow printing. Thanks to a comprehensive range of measuring systems and optional facilities for inline sheet inspection, the Rapida 76 is prepared for a diversity of special applications, including even the production of security documents.
The new Rapida 76 handles both conventional and UV inks and coatings with equal ease. Beside IR/hot-air drying systems, various UV, HR-UV and LED-UV systems are also available.
Special featuers
The Rapida 76 offers further special features including, inking units that can be disengaged from the press drive if they are not required for a specific job. According to Koenig and Bauer this reduces roller wear and cuts make-ready times. When production is to be resumed, the units concerned are re-engaged at the press of a button.
The times in which plates had to be bent before loading onto the press are similarly over. On the Rapida 76, unbent plates can also be mounted, irrespective of whether an automated or simultaneous plate changing system is in use.With simultaneous plate changing, all the plates on the Rapida 76 can be changed in just 45 seconds. In combination with CleanTronic Synchro, the blankets and impression cylinders – and optionally also the ink rollers – can be washed parallel to plate changing. This shortens make-ready times. The same applies to automated coating forme changes.One camera system for up to three functions: colour control, sheet inspection and PDF comparisons
Wide range of measuring and control systems
Application-orientated measuring and control systems contribute to faster make-ready, reduced waste, and a consistently high and stable print quality. The Rapida 76 can be configured with systems for register measurement and control, colour control and sheet inspection. All inline systems operate with a common camera, which reduces maintenance requirements and simplifies handling.
In a full-featured setup, ErgoTronic ICR controls the register by way of a single sheet placed on the console, while QualiTronic ColorControl provides for convenient colour adjustment. The camera system installed after the last printing or coating unit or after the last unit before perfecting automatically determines the optical densities and controls the ink keys without further intervention. As an option, the system can be expanded to implement colour control according to grey balance (QualiTronic InstrumentFlight). QualiTronic PDFCheck carries out inspection of the printed sheets and comparison with the customer’s PDF as the basis for uncompromising quality. Semi-automated technology also permits fast coating forme changes on the Rapida 76
