Wifag and GAMAG will launch their global cooperation on press modernisation and retrofits with a ‘turnkey’ project for Esa Lehtipaino Oy in Lahti, Finland.

Working with Nordic Printing Solutions, they will reconfigure and install a KBA Express the customer is buying from Kaleva Oy in Oulu. The comprehensive retrofit will create a three-tower press with two folders and include new automation and press controls.

With the installation of Wifag’s Platform drive and press control system, the towers, angle-bar module, folder superstructure and the folders will be upgraded to the latest direct drive technology.

Electromechanical sidelay register drives and mechanical auxiliary registers – and their electromechanical servo drives – will also be renewed. The press will be operated from two Wifag consoles and equipped with new softproofing and production planning/presetting systems, both from Wifag.

The project means availability of spare parts is ensured, quality will be improved and waste reduced, with functions corresponding to those of a new machine, the company says. It also provides for later installation of colour register and cut-off register control.

Work on the building starts in February, and the press installation in May, with commissioning provisionally scheduled for December 2013. Retrofit and reconfiguration work is being split between Lahti and Petäjävesi.

Pictured (from left) Pascal Clémençon, Jukka Ottela (president of Esa Lehtipaino Oy), Urs Eymann (GAMAG) and (standing) Timo Lehtovuori (managing director of Esa Lehtipaino Oy)