Koenig & Bauer has confirmed that KennedySmith (Press) Ltd has measured a significant boost in efficiency following investment in a high-specification Rapida 106 press. Thanks to advanced automation features, KennedySmith is now able to achieve the same production output in three shifts that previously required six. The company’s energy bill for the first quarter 2026 was reduced by 26% compared with the same period last year.
Michiel Molenaar, Managing Director, KennedySmith, said, “This reflects a combination of running fewer shifts and the fact that the new dryer is far more efficient at recirculating heat.”
Based in Ayrshire, Scotland, KennedySmith serves a range of packaging markets including food and pharmaceutical applications, specialising in solid board carton packaging. The order with Koenig & Bauer underlines the company’s focus on investing in the latest technology to ensure operational flexibility and dependable performance for fast-moving market requirements.
Michiel Molenaar, Managing Director, KennedySmith.
Before making its investment decision, KennedySmith undertook a broad review of available technologies, including digital and flexo options. Following print trials at various facilities, the company selected the Rapida 106 platform for its combination of intelligent technology options, high automation and overall production capacity.
Molenaar says, “A key driver behind this investment was the need to de-skill the production process and reduce reliance on operator experience. Specialist skills are becoming harder to recruit industry-wide, so we wanted technology that could deliver consistent output with less dependence on individual expertise. During print trials in Germany, we were particularly impressed by the speed of job changeovers, and since installation we have also seen significant reductions in waste.”
The Rapida 106 is designed for high-performance medium-format sheetfed offset printing and is recognised for fast makeready, advanced automation and consistent print quality. In KennedySmith’s configuration, the six-colour press with coater combines fully automatic plate changing, advanced logistics support and inline PDF-based inspection. These choices have helped streamline production, reduce waste and support reliable quality control across demanding carton applications.
Chris Scully, Managing Director, Koenig & Bauer (UK) Ltd, comments, “Even though KennedySmith carried out a very thorough evaluation of the press options available, choosing to invest with a new supplier is always a leap of faith. It is satisfying to us that they have so rapidly realised the benefits of Koenig & Bauer technology. At this level of specification, the Rapida 106 runs itself, giving the team a highly productive and dependable platform for future growth. We look forward to building on this new partnership and supporting them through their growth.”
