Kama is the latest industry supplier to seek protection by German courts while undergoing a reorganisation to reduce overheads and avoid closure.
The business follows on the heels of Baumann owned businesses, Kolbus, Polar and Renz among others. Each sought the protection of the courts while undergoing restructuring. Currently the Dresden court has appointed Reinhard Klose, partner at Kanzlei Flöther & Wissing, as provisional insolvency administrator to look after Kama. Meanwhile the manufacturer continues to trade under the oversight of the administrator.
Kama produces folder gluers, die cutting platens and foiling machines geared towards short runs and automation for B2 format sheets.
The company was first founded more than 130 years ago and after German reunification became an independent company in 1994. Since then it has focused on short runs and fast makeready finishing machines, frequently for digital print applications.
In the UK the ProCut 76 and ProFoil 76 platen and platen with foiling have been positioned as a modern version of a Heidelberg Cylinder, still extensively used in commercial print houses. Most recent installation is of a used model at Harrogate business Platinum Print.
Kama says it has more than 800 installation across 80 countries. According to the company website there are 110 employees.
Friedheim International was UK distributor for many years until this responsibility passed recently to Komori Europe as part of its growing portfolio of finishing equipment. At Drupa in 2024 the company announced the Kama Hammerhead, a concept for a machine that included digital enhancement for UV spot varnishing and digital foiling with Tresu supplying an inline coater for the machine, in both B2 and B1 formats. The statement included a pledge for Tresu and Kama to collaborate in future developments. The future of that commitment will now depend on the outcome of the current process which may result in new ownership for the business.
