Allied Printing Services Leads Way with U.S. and World-First Technologies

First Koenig & Bauer Rapida 106X Double Coater Perfector UV press in U.S is also world-first configured with Baldwin's PREPAC®,automatic blanket cleaning system

ST. LOUIS, Missouri — January 4, 2024 — On the cusp of its 75th anniversary, Allied Printing Services remains successful and competitive in large part due to the company (and companies) it keeps in its orbit of like-minded and resilient innovators. The Manchester, Connecticut-based printer, one of the largest family-owned commercial printers in the Northeast, is leading the way with first in the U.S. and world technology investments.

2023 is the latest benchmark in its storied history with Allied now holding the dual distinction as the first printer in the U.S. to operate a Koenig & Bauer Rapida 106 X double coater UV perfector press and the first in the world to configure it with Baldwin Technology’s PREPAC automated blanket-washing system.

According to Koenig & Bauer (K&B), its new Allied Printing Services press is a specially configured eight-color four-over-four perfector operating at 18,000 sph that is capable of both conventional and UV printing. It is designed with four print units, plus coater, two drying towers, another four units, and another coater with a 12-ft delivery.

“ The Rapida 106 X gives us so much opportunity and differentiates us from our competitors,” said John Sommers, President and CEO of Allied Printing Services. “It’s like a Swiss Army knife with multiple tools and advantages – it’s a game changer for our business, showing the versatility, creativity, high quality and speed to market that we can deliver to our customers.”

Allied serves a broad base of customers from its 30-acre campus, including the financial, healthcare, education, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, automotive, biotechnology, travel and leisure and retail sectors.

Upholding its well-earned legacy of superior customer service and results requires Allied Printing Services to continually upgrade and optimize its people, processes and equipment. From first interaction to final delivery, no detail is unworthy of scrutiny, including its press cleaning protocols.

Enter St. Louis, MO-based Baldwin Technology and its PREPAC automatic blanket-washing system that features “pre-impregnated” cloth rolls that provide high ink and lint absorption capacity. PREPAC enables Allied Printing Services to achieve results that are 100 percent accurate and efficient with every ABC (automatic blanket cleaner) wash.

“Baldwin PREPAC is the only cloth we wanted on that machine,” said Gerry Dugan, Sheetfed Manager at Allied Printing Services. “We tested other options and there’s just no comparison – PREPAC is more efficient and requires no clean-up and no need for multiple solvents.”

Allied Printing’s Jerry Pagan, Kevin Howard and Gerry Dugan with Baldwin Technology’s Walter Cano (photo: Emily Cambriello)

By replacing the dry cloth/solvent-dispensing wash system on the standard K&B equipment, Allied Printing Services can now make faster make readies and eliminate the many downsides to common solvent-dispensing systems.

“We run PREPACs on all of our other machines, including our K&Bs and Komori web presses, and we demanded that PREPAC be used on the new K&B,” said Kevin Howard, VP Sheetfed, Web, and Postpress at Allied Printing Services. “They are superior to competitive products which we discovered dried out quickly and did not clean as well.”

Jerry Pagan at the helm (photo: Emily Cambriello)

Baldwin’s proprietary solvent contains the lowest VOC content on the market. In addition to its superior cleaning capabilities, it is non-toxic, non-hazardous, and allows printers to minimize their VOC footprint.

As the designer and inventor of PREPAC, Baldwin continually collaborates with Allied and its other customers to continually help them to improve productivity, leaning on the engineering expertise of its seasoned teams and leveraging its more than 100 years of printing industry leadership.

With consistent, uniform distribution of solvent on the cloth, PREPAC saves the hassle and sizable costs of replacing blankets due to uneven solvent distribution or no solvent spraying, as commonly experienced with such systems in demanding, high productivity environments.

“As we look forward to celebrating our 75th anniversary, it is through partnerships with such leading organizations as K&B and Baldwin that will keep us at the forefront for the next 75 years,” said Sommers.

ABOUT BALDWIN TECHNOLOGY COMPANY INC.

Allied Printing Services Leads Way with U.S. and World-First Technologies Baldwin Technology Company Inc. is a leading global manufacturer and supplier of innovative process automation equipment, parts, service and consumables for the printing, packaging, textile, plastic film extrusion and corrugated industries. As a total solutions provider, Baldwin offers our customers a broad range of market-leading technologies, with a focus on improving the
economic and environmental efficiency of production processes. Through a global footprint of 21 company-owned locations and an extensive network of partners, our customers are supported globally, regionally and locally by dedicated sales and service team members who add value by forming long-term relationships. Baldwin is privately owned by BW Forsyth Partners, a Barry-Wehmiller company. For more, visit baldwintech.com.

BW Converting Solutions -- ONE Global Team - Better Together

BW Converting Solutions is a strategic alliance of resources and services that bring together six Barry-Wehmiller companies — Paper Converting Machine Company (PCMC), Baldwin Technology Co., Winkler + Dünnebier (W+D), STAX Technologies, Hudson-Sharp, and Northern Engraving and Machine. These industry leaders offer trusted brands and innovative technologies in the design, manufacture, and service of high-performance converting and packaging machinery for the tissue, nonwovens, hygiene, bag-converting, mailing, and printing industries. By coming together as one global team, our combined engineering, operations, supply chain, and sales teams work together to better serve customer needs. Together, we provide one global parts network, one service support network, a broad base of engineering experience and talent, regional sales support and a superior level of service.