Lewisburg Printing recently ordered a new Koenig & Bauer Rapida 145 seven-color press. It will be delivered to the company’s 141,000 sq ft Lewisburg, TN facility later this year.
“The reason why we turned to Koenig & Bauer once again to supply our newest press asset is because, as the leader in speed-to-market, we determined that this new 57-inch press will provide us with the latest technology and more flexibility to turn jobs quicker and meet our customers’ demands,” says Tonya Kowa-Morelli, COO. “This significant capital investment – our ninth offset press – allows us to remain ahead of our competition and deliver high quality consistent projects in a timely fashion in this on-demand world.”
Tonya Kowa-Morelli, COO, Lewisburg Printing.
Kowa-Morelli specified that the new press be equipped with the latest quality control systems to deliver eye-catching brand and shelf presence for its retail customers. For additional speed and quick makeready, the new 145 model is equipped with every automated feature to address the need for shorter runs, highest quality output, and fastest turnaround times.
Lewisburg’s press operators and management team will be assisted by two new Koenig & Bauer systems. An instant, up-to-date analysis of the performance of the new Rapida 145 on the shop floor will be supplied due to Koenig & Bauer’s PressWatch system. To identify untapped performance potential on press, dramatically assisting operators in ensuring maximum up throughput, and significantly increasing the pressroom’s overall equipment efficiency (OEE) rate by implementing Koenig & Bauer’s SpeedWatch system.
To offer its higher end finishing and special effects, the new Rapida 145 is equipped with a tower coater for water based and a Koenig & Bauer VariDry drying system.
“Having UV technology on the new press allows us to offer a variety of different effects using various coating techniques that will drive unique value-added looks for our clients,” says Joseph Morelli, EVP of Sales and Marketing. “It is essential to offer our customers total flexibility to produce an array of litho labels and top sheets.”
Plans not only call for the installation of the new press but significant capital investments to the infrastructure in Lewisburg. “We’re demonstrating to our customers as well as our employees that we have a long-term future at that facility,” says Morelli. “By investing in this new press, we’re giving our employees all the latest technology for innovative solutions to succeed at their job. It will significantly increase our efficiencies thus exceeding our client’s demands while helping our sales team go after new business. This investment demonstrates our unwavering commitment to maintaining a world-class printing facility, reinforcing our dedication to excellence for both our industry and our employees.”
Steve Korn, Director of National and Key Accounts at Koenig & Bauer, highlights, “Lewisburg Printing and Huston Patterson, two of North America’s most respected independent family-owned packaging printing companies, now part of Radial Equity Partners, are making another strategic investment to further elevate their capabilities. This new Koenig & Bauer 57″ large-format press is a key addition to their portfolio, designed to meet the increasing demands of their growing client base while driving operational efficiency and reducing lead times. It’s a bold step forward in their commitment to excellence and innovation.”
