“We were convinced from the very first moment and are certain that the Commander is the perfect press for us. The quality and the technology are really impressive,” says Rémy Ramstein, industrial director for the EBRA Group, the parent company of L´Est Républicain. Koenig & Bauer will organise and realise relocation of the press from Belgium to France. At the same time, an additional web lead is to be added to the Commander to further optimise the customer’s production options. Jochen Schwab, head of service projects and contract management at Koenig & Bauer Digital & Webfed: “We have already demonstrated our ability to handle such large-scale projects reliably, competently and punctually on many occasions in the past. On the basis of our comprehensive after-sales service portfolio, we can guarantee the availability of spare parts and appropriately qualified technicians for many years to come, also in connection with possible requests for further conversion, expansion, retrofits or upgrades.” Dismantling of the Commander is to commence at the beginning of the coming year, and commissioning in the new press hall is already scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2020. An extensive training package is currently being discussed and will help to ensure a stable start-up by familiarising the operating and maintenance personnel with all aspects of the new press.

Investment in the future
Alongside the daily newspaper L´Est RÉPUBLICAIN, with ten different regional sections, the company also prints the titles LE RÉPUBLICAIN LORRAIN and VOSGES MATIN. A total of 1.7 million newspapers are printed every week. L´Est Républicain is a member of the EBRA media group. EBRA publishes nine regional dailies, which are produced at four different print centres.  

High level of automation and double quarterfold for maximum output
The Commander comprises a motorised Patras A reel-handling system, nine four-high towers for 4/4 production and three KF 5 jaw folders. The double quarterfold capabilities guarantee a high output with magazine formats and mailing-fold products. The comprehensive automation package with RollerTronic roller locks, a CleanTronic cylinder washing system, QIPC ink density and colour/cut-off register controls, and an automatic plate changing system, serves to reduce makeready times, waste, manual operating tasks and maintenance requirements to a minimum. The ABB console and MPS system also incorporate the latest hardware and software solutions.

About Koenig & Bauer
Koenig & Bauer is the oldest printing press manufacturer in the world with the broadest product range in the industry. For more than 200 years, the company has been supporting printers with innovative technology, tailor-made processes and a wide array of services. The portfolio ranges from banknotes, via board, film, metal and glass packaging, through to book, display, coding, magazine, advertising and newspaper printing. Sheetfed and webfed offset and flexo printing, waterless offset, intaglio, simultaneous perfecting and screen printing or digital inkjet – Koenig & Bauer is at home in virtually all printing processes and is the market leader in many of them. In the financial year 2018, the approximately 5,700 highly qualified employees worldwide generated annual sales of more than EUR 1.2 billion.
Further information can be found at https://www.koenig-bauer.com