Explaining the development of the C16, KBA said that while the focus for press manufacturers has been on larger presses of up to 96-pages, the fact that more than half the global press installations are for 16-page machines has been ignored.

The vendor claimed that, with shorter runs and more targeted audiences, a lot of print work can be more efficiently carried out on smaller-format presses such as the C16.

KBA’s C16 press is available in a 55,000cph or a 65,000cph model, placing it between the Compacta 215 and 217 in KBA’s portfolio.

According to the company, the C16’s PlateTronic system enables a complete plate change of any number of plates in less than a minute, while optimised EasyTronic software ensures start-up and run-down operations are quick and minimise waste.

The vendor said the new press would be pitched against sheetfed machines, particularly as replacements for multiple B1 long perfectors, as well as replacements for existing 16pp web presses for which “there was previously no avenue for a cost-effective replacement”.

The C16 includes a number of other features to increase automation, including RollerTronic automatic roller locks, borrowed from KBA’s newspaper presses. These are intended to reduce maintenance and running costs, enabling adjustment of inking rollers in less than two minutes from the console.

The press also boasts an automatically convertible P3 folder, with one quarterfold running up to 65,000cph. It also features dedicated AC drives for each of the couples in each printing unit to make the operation more energy-efficient and minimise wear and tear.

The C16 is available now, with orders taking around five months to complete.

Read the original article at www.printweek.com.

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