Left to right: Dan Lucian Popa (Managing Director of the Romanian Koenig & Bauer sales partner Primatehnic Service), Florin Dobrea (General Manager of Rodotex) and Sven Strzelczyk (Sales Director of Koenig & Bauer Sheetfed).
In August, an exceptionally long sheetfed offset press went into production at the Romanian printing company Rodotex. The Rapida 106, with seven colour units, a coater, two intermediate dryer towers, an additional printing and coating tower, a triple delivery extension, and hybrid configuration, now operates in the heart of Iasi, on the border with the Republic of Moldova, and is quite possibly the longest Koenig & Bauer sheetfed offset press in Southeastern Europe.
Significantly increased printing capacity
Rodotex’s 27-year history as a company owned by the Dobrea family has been characterised by presses from other manufacturers. The customised, user-oriented features of the Rapida technology and its broad range of substrates and finishing options impressed the Rodotex experts during the evaluation process. Furthermore, the Romanian packaging specialists are doubling their print format with the press. While previously only sheetfed offset presses in 50 x 70cm format were used, the Rapida 106 offers significantly increased printing capacity with formats up to 74 x 106cm and print speeds of up to 18,000 sheets/hr.
A comprehensive package of automation solutions also contributes to this. From the non-stop automatic feeder system to FAPC plate changers, CleanTronic Multi combined washing systems, and the lowerable non-stop carriage in the delivery, many additional components contribute to convenient operation and fast job changeovers. In addition, there are online and inline color control systems such as QualiTronic ColorControl for comprehensive print quality monitoring.
Rodotex specialises in high-quality packaging for perfumes, cosmetics, and increasingly also pharmaceutical products. It also produces illuminated advertising, guidance systems, and signs for well known companies – from global hotel networks and airports to international brand owners and retailers.
High-quality coatings for the cosmetics industry
Special coatings and tactile surface effects are essential, especially for the demanding cosmetics industry. The new Rapida 106 realises its full potential here: with a special configuration featuring a printing unit between the two coater towers, it enables inline matte/gloss coatings in UV or mixed UV mode, bringing the premium packaging to life.
With the new installation, the city of Iasi has become a hotbed of Koenig & Bauer printing and postpress technology. Polirom operates two Rapida 76 presses, one five-unit and one six-unit, each with coating capabilities. Two Omega Allpro 90 folder-gluers are also in operation.
