The printing firm’s founder Olaf König explained how this decision came about. LED technology caught his attention when searching for exciting topics with which he could strengthen his company both in terms of quality and ecology. He met with the developers of LED lamps and then began looking for a press manufacturer who could build him such a suitable press. KBA caught his eye and the delivery of a Rapida 106 with six inking units and coater followed. In scope of this investment the specialists from Königsdruck pooled know-how from mechanical, ink and coating engineering as well as from the pressroom creating an international LED technology hub for offset printing.
LED-UV: a plus for quality and the environment
Carsten Barlebo from dryer manufacturer AMS looked back on his first meeting with Olaf König. In 2013 they both philosophised about how to make printing ‘green’. The development of LED drying was a huge step forward. AMS unveiled this process at Drupa 2012 without any customer references. 18 months later the company had 156 installations worldwide under its belt. Furthermore, in 2014 the efficiency of this drying process doubled.
Rapida 106 – the miracle press
Carolin Zacharias, manager director at Königsdruck, summed up the company’s numerous initiatives: “We have embarked on a path towards becoming a sustainable firm. This means more than simply concentrating on economic and ecological aspects. Social topics, especially education, are equally important to us.” She pointed out that some 7.5m adults in Germany cannot read or write. In September last year Königsdruck therefore launched the charity initiative “Happy by Design”. Together with the German non-profit organisation Kopf, Hand + Fuss, Königsdruck aims to combat illiteracy. As a means of helping those adults affected to help themselves the first app targeting illiteracy entitled “IRMGARD” is expected be launched on the German education market.
The visiting print experts saw first-hand the many facets of sustainability at stands belonging to Königsdruck’s customers as well as organic products from the German eco-village of Brodowin. Its managing director Ludolf von Maltzan: “We have to put more back into the earth than we take from it and we have to look after all that it gives us. This is true of the production of print products as well as agriculture.”
The participants were impressed not only with the event, but also with the print samples from live print demonstrations that they could take home with them. These can also be ordered directly from Königsdruck’s Website.