Interest is growing in the use of varnish to lift waterless coldset print to close to heatset quality.

Several of the 20 companies using KBA's waterless Cortina press have taken advantage of the unique option to finish printed products inline finishing using an integrated varnishing unit for water-based varnish and an IR dryer.

A pioneer of the technology, Rheinisch-Bergische Druckerei in the DRUPA city of Düsseldorf uses the technology to give a pleasant look-and-feel to special-interest publications and advertising formats produced on standard uncoated papers.

A varnishing unit and IR dryer installed in February 2014 has been in daily use ever since, and the company is currently adding a second, bringing to six the number already in use. KBA also recently received an order from Belgian print giant Coldset Printing Partners to add Cortina waterless print capability - in this case heatset - in place of conventional coldset at its Paal-Beringen print site, where two Cortina towers will replace five (of 12) existing Commander towers.

In a highly competitive print market, waterless is being seen to offer users options to reach new target groups, and give customers added value.

Among products at RBD in Düsseldorf is a house magazine called Cortissimo, which extols the option to printing clients and those in the high-quality advertising market. Managing director Matthias Tietz says the production of A4 magazine products has developed into an "economically interesting" product branch for the company: "The varnishing of printed products is becoming increasingly popular."

The second varnishing unit will enable the company to meet requests for magazines of up to 64 pages.

Pictured (from top): RBD managing director Matthias Tietz with the Cortissimo magazine; the varnishing unit (left) and IR dryer; and samples of RBD's growing portfolio for external customers