Koenig & Bauer Advances Digital Printing Across Market Segments

Koenig & Bauer has been seeing a growing level of interest for highly industrial, high speed manufacturing applications for the RotaJET modular digital web printing machine and establishing RotaJET sites in the US.

RotaJET and VariJET 106 are the key pillars of digital production

• The Koenig & Bauer Durst VariJET 106 attracting widespread interest in folding cartons
• The RotaJET is making big inroads into packaging, décor, and book printing segments
• To ensure a digital future that is strong, strategic partnerships are constantly being developed.

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 personalization. The company is doing this by integrating digital production into all platforms and increasing direct contact with brands and users. As one example, consumer packaging brands are demanding customized 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. As we chart our growth path, we are connecting with both customers and end-users across these new platforms. Digitalization, modularity, and sustainability are all a major focus.”

RotaJET is a key digital production press, as are VariJET 106 and the Durst Group. Durst Group manufactures advanced digital production systems, software and has its headquarters located in South Tyrol in 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.

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 hghi-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:

Book

Bookmakers are attracted to digital printing because it is cost-effective for high-capacity production of book blocks and for finishing them. It also reduces makeready and inventories. A new RotaJET130 has been installed in the Lake Book manufacturing plant, Melrose Park, IL, since the start of the year. The RotaJET 130’s configuration allows for a book to print and be bound in less than ten seconds, from the raw paper to the pallet. This is a disruptive technology in the book-printing market, and it is driving a brand new business model.

Liquid cartons

In the near future, it is anticipated that industrial digital printing will increase its usage in the liquid carton market. Brands are becoming more interested in the features that increase speed to market and allow for frequent changes. TetraPak is one of the largest manufacturers in Denton, TX. It operates a RotaJET 168 large-format digital inkjet printer at its facility.

Folding carton

Packaging and folding carton production hold the biggest potential for Koenig & Bauer, said Sanker. RotaJET is designed for high-volume digital packaging. It can be transformed into a hybrid machine with the addition of flexo sleeves. Rapida sheetfed components are also available to enhance this press and address high-volume packaging applications. Koenig & Bauer Durst’s VariJET 106 addresses the lower volume, high quality market and embellishment applications. Both digital presses offer significant value, and can offer end-to-end solutions at lower costs with faster production times and sustainable production.

Décor

The décor market is another growing market for digital printing. Koenig & Bauer is seeing double digit installations for décor in Europe and that growth is migrating to the US following new consumer trends and dynamics, says Sanker. The projects are starting to take shape. Digital printing is a great option for the flooring and furniture industry because it reduces costs and allows for short runs, frequent job changes and customization.

“With RotaJET web widths up to 138cm, 168cm and 225cm, we can offer our customers market- and region-specific solutions for the most varied décor applications,” says Sanker.