Koenig & Bauer : Rapida 106 from Koenig & Bauer for Direct Printing on Corrugated Board

• Corrugated packaging for the retail sector
• New six-colour Rapida 106 with inline coating in operation since April
• Partner to the Swiss Paper Trading Group

[Link]Acceptance of the Rapida 106 in the Koenig & Bauer production centre (left to right): Igor Levin, head of the board of directors of Elgraf, Michael König, senior sales manager for Koenig & Bauer, and Elgraf marketing director Volodymyr Boitsun

The Ukrainian packaging company Elgraf has decided to invest in its future and placed an order for a state-of-the-art sheetfed offset press from Koenig & Bauer last year. The Rapida 106 is configured with six printing units, an inline coater, and a comprehensive range of options. Thanks to the cutting-edge technology, Elgraf's customers can now benefit from both enhanced offset print quality and shorter production and delivery times.

Leading supplier of corrugated packaging in Ukraine

As one of the leading Ukrainian suppliers of modern corrugated packaging, Elgraf has specialised in smart packaging solutions for the retail sector. Based in the Lviv region, the company counts retailers and brand owners in more than eleven European countries including Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France and the Benelux countries among its customers. Its focus is directed on the types of corrugated packaging popular today for products that demand particular attention and know-how, for example sensitive fruits and vegetables.

[Link]The press was taken into production at Elgraf in April. Elgraf's directors were clearly proud of their investment (left to right): Volodymyr Boitsun, marketing director; Igor Levin, head of the board; and Yuri Smakula, general director

Elgraf offers its customers all-round services from a single partner: from consulting and planning to production of the required packaging, as well as high-quality printing and advanced logistics services. The corrugated board is also produced locally, primarily on the basis of recycled papers from leading European suppliers. The company is a specialist in the field of microflute corrugated board, and in particular for F-flute grades: less material, lighter weight, same strength. That brings a wide range of both ecological and economic benefits.

Production raised to a new level

"The Rapida 106 puts us in a position to raise the service offered to our customers to a whole new level. And that in all three relevant areas: quality, speed and sustainability. Above all, it was the option of printing directly on F-flute corrugated board in a high-quality offset process that captured our imagination and convinced us," says Igor Levin, head of the board of directors at Elgraf, and who is responsible for investment planning and corporate development.

[Link]The Rapida 106 has been installed on raised foundations and is ready for production

The Rapida 106 was delivered and installed during the first weeks of the year. The first test jobs were printed successfully in March and the new Rapida 106 has been operating daily since the beginning of April - mainly for direct printing on corrugated board. The press is engineered for production speeds up to 18,000 sheets per hour. It also incorporates numerous automation features, for example options and functions from the ErgoTronic family.

The investment was realised primarily by Elgraf and its shareholders.

Elgraf has been a partner of the Paper Trading Group (PTG) from Neuchâtel in Switzerland since 2017. PTG is the central contact partner, adviser and order manager for all European customers, and these activities allow it to ensure straightforward and uncomplicated handling of their projects.

Independent packaging specialist Elgraf is planning further investments to expand its service and product portfolio in 2024.