The DuMont media group in Cologne, Germany, is one of Koenig & Bauer’s (KBA) oldest customers. Their association dates back 180 years. The traditional publishing house recently opted once again for cutting-edge newspaper press technology from the Würzburg-based press manufacturer. A highly automated KBA Commander CL will come on stream in autumn 2016 at subsidiary MZ Druckereigesellschaft in Halle. With its high level of productivity, enormous flexibility and extremely short makeready times thanks to automatic plate changers, the web press from KBA-Digital & Web Solutions will replace a KBA Express delivered in the early 90s.

Alongside the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung as a main product, MZ Druckereigesellschaft’s 115 employees produce advertising supplements, brochures, booklets and other printed matter in Rhine and half-Rhine format. This is in addition to extensive mailing and logistic services.

The DuMont media group has three business segments: regional media, Business Information and digital. Along with the media brands Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, Kölnische Rundschau, Berliner Zeitung, Mitteldeutsche Zeitung, EXPRESS, Berliner Kurier, Hamburger Morgenpost and numerous regional ad supplements, its portfolio also includes the DuMont book publishing house as well as local radio stations and TV channels, such as Köln.tv, TV Halle and joiz Germany. What is more, DuMont media services are one of the leading publishing service providers in the field of media production, call centre and process management. Via Venture-Fonds Capnamic and DuMont Venture, the media group also has shares in over 20 start-up companies.

With a maximum web width of 1,400mm (55.1in) and a cylinder circumference of 1,020mm (40.2in) the new four-high KBA Commander CL can print up to 45,000 full-colour newspapers per hour with 32 pages in Rhine format or 64 pages tabloid. It comprises two four-high towers, a KF 5 jaw folder and two Pastomat reelstands with the Patras A reel-logistics system. A comprehensive automation package consisting of pagination change, inking unit and cylinder washing units, fan-out, colour measuring and control systems, colour and cut-off register controls and automatic plate changing systems reduce job changing times, waste and operation and maintenance efforts to a minimum.

Equipment, such as Zip’n’Buy, Skip Slitter, glued Superpanorama (MultiView), half cover, spadia and a section stitcher, allows the production of special ad formats. Provision has been made for the addition of ribbon stitcher. The Commander CL will be controlled from two ErgoTronic consoles featuring EasyTronic software for optimised press start-up and automated run-down. Alongside a software package for maintenance and servicing, a KBA interface connects the customer’s existing EAE PRINT job preparation and presetting system and the EAE VIP planning and statistic system.