At that time, an official opening in person was cancelled due to the pandemic. In the years that followed, Koenig & Bauer‘s Packaging Competence Center developed into an excellently utilised meeting point for packaging companies from all over the world.
In addition to machine demonstrations, application tests and process engineering developments, the broadcasts as part of the virtual drupa 2021, for example, came from the new Packaging Competence Center – as did many live broadcasts of demos to all parts of the world. From the outset, the installed technology has mapped the end-to-end packaging workflow from pre-press to printing and die-cutting through to folding carton gluing.
The original technical equipment has been or is currently being replaced by the latest products. For example, a Rapida 76 has recently become available for printing demonstrations in the high-quality cardboard sector (pharmaceutical and luxury packaging). A CutPRO Q 106 flatbed die-cutter has been newly installed and an Ipress 106 SB is currently being set up. The Rapida 145 from the initial year has already left the hall and will be replaced by a new machine of the same series from May. In total, there will then be three packaging lines in three different format classes with the following technology available for application tests:
- Digital solutions: myKyana, VisuEnergy X, Kyana Data, Kyana Connect, Kyana Assist;
- PrintFusion: end-to-end packaging workflow between pre-press and printing in collaboration with Hybrid Software;
- Sheetfed offset: Rapida 76, Rapida 106 X, Rapida 145;
- Digital folding carton printing: VariJET 106;
- Die-cutting: CutPRO Q 106 and Ipress 106 SB flatbed diecutters, CutPRO X 106 rotary die-cutter;
- Folder gluing: Omega Allpro 110, Omega Allpro 70.
More than 5,000 users from all over the world and from all continents have already visited the Packaging Competence Center and extensively tested the technology in preparation for their own investments. On average, up to three printing demonstrations take place simultaneously on the seven available machines. In addition, there are parallel printing demonstrations in commercial and label printing in the Commercial and Label Competence Centres.
The Packaging Competence Center is also well booked for the future: An Open House with the theme “Expand Your Business Model” is planned for May, where all machines will be producing live. In addition, there are daily printing demonstrations for interested parties from all over the world. With its new building, the Customer Experience Center has developed into an important meeting point for the international printing industry.
