PRESS RELEASE

Author_ / Coastline Public Relations / No._ / 1604-011
Inquiries_ / Eric Frank / Date_ / April25, 2016
Phone_ / 1-469-532-8040 or 800-532-7521 / Release_
E-mail_ / / Pages_ / 2
/ Photographs_ / 1

Toronto’s Metroland Newspaper Receives Web Retrofit from KBA North America

Unique web service upgrade provides new enhanced technology

KBA North America announces thatits knowledgeable web offset service department has completed a drive retrofit of two reelstands plus a retrofit of themotion control and drivesin one of the four printing towers in the pressroom at Toronto’s Metroland newspaper, one of Canada's leading community media companies with operations in newspapers, digital properties, flyer distribution, printing, consumer shows, magazines, directories and online commerce. This unique web service retrofit/rebuild program, which is only offered by KBA, offers preventative change-over installation from drive components from AMK and BRC on an existing web offset press and replaces them with new enhanced technology.

“We print over 100 community newspapers with over 125 editions that span from London in southwest Ontario to Ottawa in the northeast, with concentration around Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area,” says Wayne Savage, maintenance supervisor at Metroland Media. “It’s imperative that we need reliable running equipment. We chose KBA to do the retrofit because we felt they could do the job with the least amount of downtime and because of the extensive knowledge of their factory-trained personnel. In fact, KBA’s retrofit process did not hinder our production at all; they came in, did their work without any interference to anybody, and got the job done on schedule.”

The KBA team delivered the new AMK reelstands and BRC motion control and drives to the Metroland Toronto newspaper pre-assembled and ready to be mounted and re-wired. During the month-long installation, the KBA team worked hand-in-hand with the newspaper’s production team seamlessly.

“At KBA we are able to audit, analyze, and recommend programs to our customers and even non-customers to increase output and quality,” says Stefan Prohaska, director of customer service at KBA North America. “Asset condition and reliability is key to dependable production and delivering products on time.Our goal with the web offset retrofit service is to provide newspapers with reliable manufacturing and successful production on their web offset presses and to keep the technology running smoothly.”

Savage knew that the retrofit work was critical to the pressroom and its production. “The drives control all of the press’s components,” he says. “We knew we had to quickly make a decision to ensure that the press continued its production. When we realized that replacement drives were no longer available, we turned to KBA. The end result was extremely positive for our organization.”

Metroland Media is one of Canada's leading community media companies with operations in newspapers, digital properties, flyer distribution, printing, consumer shows, magazines, directories and online commerce.The firm publishes over 100 community newspapers with over 125 editions that span from London in southwest Ontario to Ottawa in the northeast, with concentration around Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area.

KBA North America is located in Dallas, Texas and a member of the KBA Group. Established almost 200 years ago in Wuerzburg, Germany, Koenig & Bauer AG (KBA) is the oldest and second largest press manufacturer worldwide. KBA's banner, 'People & Print', reflects its dual focus as a leading innovator for print entrepreneurs. The group's product range is the broadest in the industry; its portfolio includes sheetfed offset presses in all format classes, commercial and newspaper web presses, inkjet systems and presses, flexographic presses, special presses for banknotes, securities, metal-decorating, smart cards, glass and plastic decorating. For more information visit the company's web site at

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Caption:

Photo 1: Wayne Savage, maintenance supervisor at Metroland Media in Toronto, is pleased with thedrive retrofit of two reelstands plus a retrofit of the motion control and drives in one of the four printing towers in the newspaper pressroom.