April 19, 2024

Walter G. Anderson installs third press

By Jamee A

With the addition of a third KBA Rapida Press, Walter G. Anderson folding carton manufacturers in Newton is the only company in the world to have three of these presses in operation. (Jamee A)

Since opening in Newton in 2011, Walter G. Anderson has done nothing but grow. Recently, to keep up with demand, the folding carton manufacturers installed a third KBA Rapida Press becoming the only company in the world to have three of these presses in operation.

“Ever since we opened our facility in Newton in 2011, our KBS Rapida 145 press has become the workhorse producing folding carton work,” President of WGA Marc Anderson said. “The growth in our company, the requirements of our valued customers and overall market demands precipitated a third press. We needed to increase our capacity and flexibility.”

The press is a 57 inch seven color press with a coater that features a fully automatic plate changer, CleanTronic Synchro providing simultaneous cleaning of inking rollers, blankets and impression cylinders and includes dedicated package for inking unit drives. It also has ErgoTronic ColorControl for the highest quality printing. It is built in Germany.

Amazing technological ingenuities, the highest run speeds, a redesign of the feeder, new delivery extension and delivery, user-friendliness, the ability pre-set different options and being environmentally friendly were a few reasons Anderson gave for purchasing the new press.

“Being environmentally friendly allows our company to save on power and decrease our power consumption as well as providing shorter makereadies to reduce waste,” Anderson said.

When WGA came to Newton, it moved into the former Maytag Distribution Center. It was founded in downtown Minneapolis by Walter G. Anderson and conducted business there before moving headquarters to Hammel, Minn. in the 1980s. It is a third generation company that is among the most modern folding carton plants in the industry.

When it moved to Newton, it installed one printing press, one die cutter and one gluer. About two and a half years ago, a second press was installed and the latest press rounded out the trio in April.

“Our customers are growing and we go out in the market place and find new customers,” WGA Plant Manager Scot Schalk said.

The company mainly works to produce boxes for food products with a popular item being cereal. Schalk said about 90 percent of what is shipped out is used for food-related products.