History

1976 - 1990

1976 Würzburg

Inauguration of a high assembly hall for giant presses.
The first Express newspaper presses go into production.

1980 Würzburg

Production of the first Colortronic electronic system for the remote adjustment of inking and dampening units and plate register.
Factory II in Grombühl, a suburb of Würzburg, is closed down; a 5,000m² assembly hall is erected on the main factory site.

1982 Planeta

The Varicontrol remote ink control system and the Varidamp film dampening unit are introduced for all Planeta presses.

1985 Würzburg

Koenig & Bauer goes public. Capital resources exceed DM100 million for the first time.
The Guardian in London orders three Anilox-Courier keyless letterpress machines.

1985 Frankenthal

The Frankenthal factory ships the TR 7B, the first publication rotogravure press for a web width of more than 3m.

1986 Würzburg

Koenig & Bauer launches the first Rapida 104 sheetfed offset press with a unit-type design. Output: 15,000 s/h.
It also raises its stake in Maschinenfabrik Koenig & Bauer AG Mödling to 97%.

1986 Planeta

Planeta ships a ten-unit version sheetfed offset press line to the USA.

1988 Würzburg

The Daily Mail in London takes delivery of eight Flexo-Courier presses, the largest flexo newspaper installation in the world.
The minority interest in Albert-Frankenthal is increased to 74.99%.
The biggest order to date - for six Commander web offset presses worth over DM150 million - is placed by a customer in England.
Koenig & Bauer posts a turnover of more than DM500 million and publishes a group balance sheet for the first time, showing a consolidated external turnover of more than DM800 million.

1989 Frankenthal

The world's first anilox offset press for full-colour newspaper printing - Albert-Frankenthal's Alfra CX - goes into operation.

1989 Planeta

A customer showroom, complete with training and demonstration facilities, is inaugurated in Radebeul.

1990 Würzburg

At Drupa in Düsseldorf Koenig & Bauer and Albert-Frankenthal exhibit jointly for the first time as the Koenig & Bauer-Albert group (KBA).
Acquisition of a majority interest in the Motter Printing Press Company in York, Pennsylvania, and its change of name to KBA-Motter Corp. A collaborative agreement is signed with Planeta Druckmaschinenwerke, Radebeul. Koenig & Bauer acquires the remaining shares in Albert-Frankenthal, making it a full subsidiary.
Company turnover tops DM600 million, group turnover DM940 million.

1990 Planeta

Planeta takes over Royal Zenith Corp. in the USA and renames it Planeta North America Inc. Planeta is reconverted from a state enterprise to a pubic limited company.