Tried & Tested

Launched at Drupa in 1996, the KBA Rapida 105 featured a whole host of technological firsts. The machine was the manufacturer’s first truly digitally controlled press and was more automated than its predecessor, the 104. In today’s market, it competes with the MAN Roland R700, Heidelberg SM 102 and Komori LS40.

Mark Nixon, KBA executive sales director, says that the press was four years ahead of its time. With full automation, including gripper and format changes, the 105 entered into a largely untapped market and catapulted KBA into the B1 arena. And with 250 installations worldwide, there’s no doubting its popularity.

The Rapida 105 was also the first press to offer a 13-unit configuration for 5/5 perfecting and perfect coating. The machine’s robust strength, ease of operation and substrate flexibility, has ensured its popularity in the new and secondhand market.

At Drupa 2004, the 105 was radically redeveloped in a bid to stay at the forefront of press technology. The original became known as the 105 Universal, while the new Rapida 105 was the world’s first press without sidelays in the feeder. Sidelay action was carried out by the grippers on the feed drum and a single wide suction belt allowed for the reverse gathering of sheets back to the pile.

Major adjustments
All of these enhancements were designed to speed up the press and eliminate misfeeds. The 105’s speed was boosted from 15,000sph to 18,000sph. Other features included a shaftless feeder, straighter sheet travel between the units, fully automatic plate changing and improved washing systems.

The original 105 had a speed of 12,000sph when perfecting and semi-automatic plate changing. It could also disengage print units when not in use. For example, if the operator regularly changes colour combinations, sometimes one or more printing units need to run empty. A console program on the machine allows the unused inking units to be mechanically disengaged from the press drive, rather than having to apply roller oil. This results in shorter washing times, longer service life for the rollers and more efficient makeready.

Activation and deactivation of the suction roller rings can be carried out remotely from the console via a central format-setting function. At the same time, operators can make manual corrections to the side jogger and suction roller positions.

With substrates, the Rapida range can handle up to 350gsm as standard. Newer machines have an airblast system to automatically load carton up to 1.2mm, while on the original presses, the carton had to be manually loaded.

Secondhand Rapidas are quite popular. At the time of writing, there were two Rapida 105s on PressXchange.com while DPM and Euro Graphic Services also specialise in secondhand machines. KBA offers fully refurbished models as part-exchange and has 25 engineers based in the UK.

The machines retain their value well: a three-year-old Rapida 105 will cost around £500,000 used, and from £750,000 new. A Universal five-colour press is priced at around £650,000 new and, for a three-year-old version, between £350,000-£400,000.

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SPECIFICATIONS
Max sheet size 720x1,050mm
Max speed 1996 15,000sph, 2004 18,000sph
Feeder pile height 1.3m
Substrates 60–350gsm
Optional up to 1.2mm
Price Universal 105
New five-colour: from £650,000
Used three-year-old five-colour: £350,000-400,000
Rapida 105 New five-colour: from £750,000
Used three-year-old five-colour: from £500,000
What to look for
• Service record
• Condition of impression cylinders