Report 36 d,e,f,s,i.qxd:Report - KBA

EasyTronic control software supports time-
and waste-saving production
been too big relative to our existing
16-page press. Having worked with
KBA kit for more than twelve years
now we have learned to value and
rely on KBA’s competence and customer
focus. After discussing the
various options with them we decided
to go for the 818 as the happy
medium – a means of securing a
competitive edge by promoting
growth and efficiency in equal
measure.”
Customised press line for D’Auria
The lean, mean Compacta 818 was
custom-configured to meet D’Auria
Printing’s specific production re-
quirements. The prime focus was
on the ability to print products that
could previously only be printed on
wider presses, and on selecting the
optional equipment that would
On 1 January 2010 the D’Auria Printing Group
merged its sheetfed and web offset activities
in a new enterprise, D’Auria Printing
The five-colour Rapida 162a installed in mid-2008 is D’Auria’s fourth KBA sheetfed press
since 1998
D’Auria production manager Iolando De Luca (right) and his press crew appreciate the
Compacta 818’s high level of automation
maximise profitability, energy efficiency,
production reliability and
quality. De Luca says: “Electricity
and gas are a major cost item in Italy
– compared to other EU countries
we must contend with much higher
prices. Another key criterion in
favour of the 818 was that it can be
started up, stopped and made ready
for the next job in a minimum of
time and with a minimum of
waste.”
High level of automation
The Compacta 818 is extensively
automated to minimise maintenance
work and roller wear. Automated
features include RollerTronic
roller locks, EasyTronic control software,
a LogoTronic production management
system and Grafikontrol’s
Densiweb colour density control.
The press rolled into action on
schedule and just in time for the
pre-Christmas surge in business.
Since then it has run in three shifts,
five to seven days a week. “The fact
that our operators had already
worked with the Compacta 215 for
some years, and were therefore
familiar with KBA presses, proved to
be an enormous advantage. Thanks
to the support provided by KBA, our
departmental head Flavio Martinelli
and our longstanding technical
consultants Attilio Dalfiume and
Norberto Bucciarelli, press commissioning
and training went with-
Even with a narrower web width of
1,680mm the Compacta 818 can print 64pp
copies measuring 210 x 299mm untrimmed
in addition to 48pp and 56pp copies
out a hitch. We are confident that
we can achieve the ambitious targets
we have set ourselves,” says
Iolando De Luca.
Positive market response
The slim-line Compacta 818 has
aroused a lot of interest among both
customers and other commercial
printers, and according to De Luca
the press hall has already had a
stream of visitors. At present
around 70% of the products printed
are flyers, the remaining 30% catalogues
and magazines, all in long
runs and consistently high quality
on stock weights of between 36 and
130gsm (24 -90lb book).
Gerhard Renn
info@kbaitalia.it
Report 36 | 2010 33