Nov. 7, 2005—When Bergen , N.J. 's Edison Litho & Printing decided to update its pressroom to incorporate modern technologies and ensure customers got quality work, they decided that if you are going to do something, you should do it right. The firm purchased an 81" KBA Rapida 205 six-color press, making it the proud owner of the largest press in the Northeast, and making the company just one of three to purchase the unit in the United States.

With the machine arriving this month, Edison Litho is getting ready for its new addition. The prepress room has been completely redone, a new concrete slab has been poured to accept the weight, and all of the systems, including wiring, are being updated. In addition, the company has already been able to get rid of two older presses to free up space.

"We found the need to keep up with the technology of today," said Joe Ostreicher, senior vice president, Edison Litho. "Advantages of the new press include that it's fully automated, it's fully computerized, has automatic plate changers, automatic blanket washers...customers have a need for speed, efficiency, quicker production, and neater jobs, and the only way to go is to take the leap to the next step?that being the newest press on the market. We have some high-end users...high-quality work needs high-quality presses."

"We have been waiting for a press this size and with this type of automation and quality for many years," George Gross, president of Edison Litho, said in a statement. "The KBA Rapida 205 81" six-color press will give us so many opportunities to better serve our customers. The KBA Rapida 205 is a revolutionary and unique piece of technology that will differentiate Edison Litho from the rest of its competitors."

Eric Frank, vice president of marketing and public relations for KBA North America, agrees. Currently the world's largest sheetfed offset press, the Rapida 205 can replace two to four older presses, reaping great efficiency benefits. He also notes that because of the recent introduction in super-large-format press technology, the KBA Rapida 205 can now have the same makeready times as 40" presses, with the same quality. "This is big news in the Metro area," Mr. Frank said of the installation at Edison .

Ed Heffernan, KBA sales representative, worked with Messrs. Goss and Ostreicher for about a year on the sale of the press. It was a well-researched investment on their part; as part of the investigative process, Mr. Ostreicher traveled to Germany and visited several plants that have the Rapida 205 to see the technology live. "The press,? noted Mr. Heffernan, ?will allow Edison to turn large-format (59.5x81") jobs in 24 hours. No one else in the Metro area will have that capability."

Inner Workings
The press takes a maximum sheet size of 59.5x81" and can run at 9,000 sheets per hour. Stock weights range from 50 lbs. to 64 pt. and the makeready times and print quality reportedly equal all other smaller format presses.

Originally introduced in 2003, the KBA Rapida 205 was designed to allow large-format printers, book printers, packaging houses, poster printers, screen printers, and general commercial printers to enter new markets with an economic, reliable, efficient and unique solution.

While Edison Litho does not expect to see the machine pay for itself in the first few months, they are anticipating huge returns. Makeready times will be decreased dramatically; the new press allows for a wider format than they have ever been able to offer; and they will be able to sell jobs with both thinner and thicker stocks, increasing the range and type of jobs they can produce in-house.

Edison Litho was founded in New York City in the late 1950s, moving to its current Bergen location in 1989. In 2005, the company expanded to total 80,000 sq. ft., where it operates a variety of press, prepress, and finishing equipment for jobs such as point-of-purchase items, retail signage, and brand marketing products.

Additional reporting by Rachel Frank.