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When the 162 was unveiled at Drupa in 1995, it coincided with a growing awareness among printers that a large-format press could do more than just increase their product range. A large-format press also brought potential cost benefits thanks to its ability to produce, in some cases, twice the number of pages in one pass compared to two smaller presses.

KBA launched the 162 to close the gap between very large- and medium-sized format machines, making it competitive on shorter runs. This development extended the market for the larger-format press beyond the specialist sectors to the more entrepreneurial commercial and trade printers.

The press enjoyed immediate success among book manufacturers, map and poster printers and packaging and point-of-sale (PoS) specialists and went on to achieve more than 300 installations worldwide in the eight years following its launch.

Establishing the market
A perfecting version – the Rapida 162a – was added to the range in 2002. This helped further establish large-format as a viable investment route for conventional B1 printers seeking to differentiate their product offering in a crowded market.

The Rapida 162 also struck a chord in niche markets. For example, with the inclusion of perfecting after the first or second unit, single-pass printing of items with product instructions on the reverse could be carried out in longer, full-colour runs.

Although the Rapida 162 had a standard stock range of 0.06–0.7mm, optional extras could extend that to 0.04mm at the bottom end and 1.2mm at the top. There was also special adapting equipment for micro-fluted board, which pushed this to 1.6mm allowing direct-to-board printing.

On the feeder, there were no mechanical drive elements. Instead, four electronically controlled drive motors did everything from jerk-free pile lifting to more efficient feeding. The presses also benefited from the double-size impression cylinders and KBA’s adjustment-free gripper system. Semi-automated plate changing was standard, while fully automatic plate changing was optional.

High-demand product
With a relatively modest installation base worldwide and a large potential market range, demand for used machines generally outstrips supply, according to KBA UK executive sales director Mark Nixon: For each machine I see, I know of five potential purchasers. They are very popular, especially the UV version. Large-format appeals across a range of sectors, from glossy coffee-table books to PoS and plastics.

Depending on year and model, the straight Rapida 162 (up to seven units) prints at 13,000-14,000sph and the long perfecting model prints at 11,000sph in straight mode, or 9,000sph when perfecting.

Because the 162 and 162a are still in production, the full range of spare parts and many ancillaries are readily available direct from the manufacturer or through dealers, such as Direct Press Marketing (DPM).

DPM sales director Dean Beckett says: Our sister company, DMD Graphic Services, has been working closely with KBA in the UK and Europe over the past six years.

As with most used machinery, it is essential that they are dismantled, transported and re-installed in the correct way.

We are currently installing a 162a six-colour into one of the leading UK print shops. Heavily automated large-format presses are becoming more desirable, says Beckett.

SPECIFICATIONS

Max sheet size
162 1,120x1,620mm
162a 1,200x1,620mm

Min sheet size
600x920mm

Substrate thicknesses
Standard 0.06-0.7mm
With lightweight equipment from 0.04mm
With board-handling equipment up to 1.2mm
With corrugated equipment up to 1.6 mm

Speed
162 straight: 13,000-14,000sph
162a straight: 12,000-13,000sph; perfecting: 9,000sph

Price
New 162 five-colour with coater £2.25m
Used 2001 162 five-colour with coater: £700,000

What to look for
• General wear and tear