Koenig & Bauer has unveiled more details of its digital printing applications in growth markets such as books, folding and liquid cartons, and décor. Together with software solutions, they are becoming an essential, integrated part of Koenig & Bauer’s focus on digitalization, modularity and sustainability.
With digital printing equipment solutions being developed and adopted across various market segments, Koenig & Bauer is responding to market trends demanding greater flexibility and more personalisation. It is achieving this by scaling up digital production across all platforms and increasingly connecting directly with brands and end users. As one example, consumer packaging brands are demanding customised campaigns with versioning that requires suppliers such as Koenig & Bauer to respond with complete end-to-end digital solutions.
North America is one of Koenig & Bauer’s key growth target regions. “Koenig & Bauer is successfully advancing its exciting digital printing applications across overall markets,” said Stephen Sanker, Koenig & Bauer’s North America’s Digital Printing Manager. “The VariJET and RotaJET presses, along with other new digital technologies, are being developed and deployed across many market segments. We are connecting with customers and end users alike across these new platforms, as we continue to chart our path to growth. Digitalization, modularity, and sustainability are all a major focus.”
Key digital production press pillars are the RotaJET press and VariJET 106 press, the latter has been developed in conjunction with the Durst Group, manufacturer of advanced digital production systems and software, which has its headquarters in South Tyrol, Italy. The VariJET 106 build program is being scaled up by Koenig & Bauer and Durst, a joint venture company between Koenig & Bauer and Durst, to address strong demands for digital production in folding carton markets.
VariJET 106 is attracting attention in the folding carton market.
Koenig & Bauer has seen growing levels of interest for highly industrial, high speed manufacturing applications for the RotaJET modular digital web printing machine and establishing RotaJET sites in the US, according to Sanker. In digital web applications, Sanker says the RotaJET is being adopted for packaging, décor, and book printing. Koenig & Bauer continues to develop and expand strategic relationships as part of its digital solution offering.
“Koenig & Bauer is a global developer and innovator of high-tech press systems and software,” said Sanker. “We are successfully integrating heavy-duty machine manufacturing with state-of-the-art digital technologies, paving the way for the company’s future as we meet market demands for decades and centuries to come.”
Koenig & Bauer’s digital printing machines are being installed in a wide variety of segments. These segments include:
– Folding carton. Packaging and folding carton production hold the biggest potential for Koenig & Bauer, said Sanker. The RotaJET addresses high volume digital packaging markets, with optional flexo sleeves for transformation into a hybrid press, which can be enriched by Rapida sheetfed components to address cost-efficient, high volume packaging applications. Koenig & Bauer Durst’s VariJET 106 addresses the lower volume, high quality market and embellishment applications. Both digital press systems offer significant value and can provide end-to-end, lower cost solutions with sustainable production and faster times to market.
– Liquid cartons. The liquid carton market is expected to increase usage of industrial digital carton printing in the near term. Brands are increasingly attracted to the capabilities associated with increasing the speed to market along with frequent changes, SKU proliferation, customization for seasonality, unique branding initiatives, language and version changes, and a variety of marketing concepts. One of the largest manufacturers is TetraPak in Denton, TX, which is operating a RotaJET VL 168 large format digital inkjet press at its facility.
