Offset Printing
Traditional Czech Printing Company fronte Minimises Make-Ready Times and Reduces Production Costs
Thursday 16. April 2026 - The Czech commercial printing specialist fronte s.r.o. is purposefully upgrading its machinery at the Sezemice site. By installing a new Rapida 106 from Koenig & Bauer, the company is responding to the enormous cost pressure and the growing demands for flexibility in commercial printing. The eight-colour perfecting press provides fronte with exactly the technology to massively accelerate job changes and ensure profitability for every single order, from magazines to catalogues.
Automation as an answer to market demands
Margin pressure and tight deadlines characterise the daily business of many printing companies. The configuration of the new Rapida 106 addresses these operational problems precisely and transforms previously unproductive make-ready times into a tangible competitive advantage.
With the frequent job changes in the commercial sector, CleanTronic Synchro unleashes its full potential by washing blankets, impression cylinders, and rollers in parallel. Together with the fully automatic FAPC plate changers, fronte brings new print jobs into production significantly faster. In addition to reduced make-ready times, the unique, mark-free and adjustment-free Sensoric Infeed System (sidelay-free infeed) creates a smooth, reliable sheet travel. Thanks to the integrated thin-printing package, the press also processes a wide variety of substrates highly flexibly, which allows the company to accept an even greater range of customer projects.
“The cost pressure in the commercial sector requires smarter, faster production processes. With the new Rapida 106, we are investing very specifically in our own profitability,” explains Petr Kozel, owner of the company. “Especially the drastic reduction in make-ready time through the parallel washing processes and the constant quality assurance during production convinced us during the test printing in Radebeul. This machine gives us the flexibility and efficiency we need to always stay one step ahead of the market.”
Data-driven quality across the entire print run
To keep waste as low as possible, fronte will in future ensure the consistency of its printed products using modern inline measurement and control technology directly in the Rapida 106. QualiTronic ColorControl regulates the ink density fully automatically during production and offers the highest print quality from the first to the last sheet of the print run. In addition, QualiTronic PrintCheck monitors production. QualiTronic ICR controls the register permanently in the inline process. The MES LogoTronic Professional seamlessly networks the Rapida with the production data acquisition and provides management through OEE reports, for example, with transparent, reliable data for precise post-calculations.
A partnership-based installation as equals
Petr Kozel approached the strategic investment with the utmost care. Even before delivery in the spring, he and his team travelled to Koenig & Bauer in Radebeul to intensively test the machine during a test print.
The installation team from Koenig & Bauer (CEE) is currently pushing ahead with the assembly in Sezemice at full speed. Chief mechanic Denis Sojka describes the work on site extremely positively: “This part of the installation is probably the most fun for me. Everything is running perfectly, and the machine is taking shape under our hands. Units, auxiliary equipment, covers, gallery – day by day the machine becomes more complete.” In mid-April, a print instructor took over the system for the final test print in the printing plant and prepared the fronte team for a completely new level of performance in sheetfed offset printing.