KBA Broadens Business in ID Systems Printing with Majority Stake in Metronic

Published: January 16, 2004, By PRESS RELEASE

WÜRZBURG, GERMANY—Koenig & Bauer (KBA) reports it's broadening its activities this year in laser and thermal transfer ID devices by taking a majority stake in Metronic. According to KBA, Metronic is located in Veitshöchheim, near Würzburg, and manufactures inkjet, hot stamping, laser, and thermal transfer ID devices for such industrial applications as UV offset printing of CDs, DVDs, and plastic cards. "Metronic's product range is a [good] fit with KBA's [range], which includes sheet fed, web offset, rotogravure, newspaper printing, and various other niche markets," states a KBA press release.

KBA says Metronic was established in 1972, and the company is well-positioned in both the plastic card and ID markets. Metronic's proximity to KBA has enabled the manufacturers to develop close ties over the years. "Two years ago," reports KBA, "[we] entered an alliance to develop and market the Genius 52, an innovative sheet-fed, offset press for the rapidly expanding short-run color market."

Visit KBA at kba-print.de. Learn more about Metronic at metronic-ag.com/en/.