As soon as you enter the foyer of DruckArt in Kaufering in southern Germany, it becomes clear that this is a very special company, specifically engaged in the graphic arts industry. Part of the Geiselberger Group since 2012, DruckArt mainly produces secondary packaging for the textile, fashion and cosmetics industries – from the smallest run to millions, with the highest level of finishing. Site Manager, Andreas Seitz, puts it this way, “Our work begins where most others stop, whether it’s small print runs, the high proportion of finishing or the proportion of manual work.”
A Rapida 106 from Koenig & Bauer has been in production in the company’s pressroom for a year now. With the six-colour press, which has an additional coating unit, DruckArt has expanded its product portfolio in terms of both format and the range of substrates that can be processed. The press has also brought medium-format sheetfed offset printing to the company. Previously, production was only in half format. The product portfolio has been expanded significantly by the format enlargement. In addition, the significantly more productive press increases capacity. It is so universally equipped that it can process both thin substrates such as 40gsm patient package inserts and 800gsm cartonboard.
The technology of the Rapida 106 is characterised by high performance and versatility. The DriveTronic feeder and the sidelay-free infeed (DriveTronic SIS) also offer significant advantages when processing a wide range of substrates – from the elimination of manual adjustments to gentle, jerk-free pile lifting.
Short Make-ready
The press is quickly inked up and the various measuring systems ensure constant printing results. The measurement technology with QualiTronic ColorControl and LiveView regularly impresses customers who come to the Rapida for final adjustments. Production Manager, Florian Schöck, is also very impressed by the printing of complicated colour areas. “The Rapida 106 is perfect for this. Colour areas are excellent on the substrates used.”
On account of the not inconsiderable customer base of start-ups from all industries, the print run is in the low range and sometimes only comprises 100 to a maximum of 5,000 sheets. This means that maximum printing performance plays a lesser role. On the other hand, short make-ready times are essential. This means that DruckArt attaches great importance to fast washing and fast ink changes, for production frequently is carried out with up to six special colours, followed by four-colour printing again. Gold and silver colours are in high demand. The automatic shutdown of inking units that are not needed significantly simplifies the necessary changeover processes. There is no need to apply idling paste and wash it off again. On the other hand, the printing up-time increases. When the inside of cartons have to be printed, the first units can also be used for powdering.
High Quality Finishing
Despite exceptional products and high costs for finishing, DruckArt’s employees make sure that even with tight budgets, the wishes of their customers are fulfilled down to the smallest detail. In the case of complex cartons, they check exactly which of the cost-intensive manual work processes can be implemented by machine.
This begins with coating. Everything that is possible is coated in an inline process with the coating tower of the Rapida 106. In addition to surface and pattern coatings with different dispersion varnishes, soft-touch and drip-off effects are also created. Quick anilox roller changes also allow different coating thicknesses to be applied. Hot embossing and hologram foils as well as cellophane wrappings also ensure an elegant appearance for the brands in question.
Some products from the fields of natural cosmetics and fashion also attach importance to the use of vegan products. For this purpose, DruckArt provides proof that the inks, varnishes, adhesives and all other necessary aids that are used have no animal-based components.
Fully Integrated
Within the Geiselberger Group, DruckArt has developed into a specialist company for refined print products. From consulting to design, printing, finishing, processing and packaging, all processes take place under one roof. This ensures fast reaction times and high added value. On a production area of over 5,000sqm, 50 employees work in two shifts – and three shifts if necessary. Five young people are trained in the company as office clerks, media designers, media engineers for printing, as well as packaging engineers.
Left to right: printer Dennis Gollent, Gavin Elflein from Koenig & Bauer Germany, Andreas Seitz, Site Manager of the Geiselberger Group and Production Manager, Florian Schöck.
