A PERFECT MARRIAGE IN DIGITAL PRINTING

Durst and Koenig & Bauer came together at CEO level. The driving forces were Christoph Gamper (CEO and Co-Owner of Durst Group) and Bolza-Schünemann (CEO of Koenig & Bauer). The goal was a partnership on equal terms, as well as enthusiasm for technology and expertise on both sides. 

The technological goal, as a motive for founding the company, was the development of the VariJET 106. Here, the competencies of the two companies complement each other excellently. Durst, as a ‘digital native’ in the printing industry, brings unparalleled know-how in digital printing, software and electronics. Koenig & Bauer – the leading manufacturer in offset folding-carton printing for the packaging market – brings market access and understands customer requirements.

The synergies also arise in market processing. Koenig & Bauer has been successful in the folding-carton market for a long time. Durst gains the opportunity, through the partnership, to tap into a new market and scale proven technology.

In the corrugated-board market, the parent companies have pooled their activities in single-pass digital printing by founding Koenig & Bauer Durst. Durst introduced the Delta SPC 130 and Koenig & Bauer the CorruJET 170. The joint venture also combines development cooperation, joint product sales and efficient use of global service capacities.

Durst introduced the Delta SPC 130 and Koenig & Bauer the CorruJET 170

The VariJET 106 would not have existed without Koenig & Bauer Durst. Koenig & Bauer had previously collaborated with another partner in the digital-printing sector and developed the product. However, this partnership was not successful. Therefore, a partnership for mutual success was established and legally solidified with Durst, to form the perfect marriage.

Integrating inkjet technology into the platform of the high-performance Rapida 106 offset press, the VariJET 106 combines the strengths of digital inkjet with those of classic offset printing and inline finishing with coating. It can utilise its full versatility by adding several coating stations for spot varnishes, UV, tactile, matt and gloss varnishes, as well as pearl, silver and gold effects, both before and after the inkjet unit. It is this unique flexibility, which defines the VariJET 106 as the most productive and cost-efficient hybrid-printing systems for digital-packaging printing. The VariJET 106 can produce personalised and individualised print products or constantly alternate between short and medium runs.

A Steering Committee was established at the beginning of the joint venture, which has proven itself and meets regularly. Here, the Koenig & Bauer Durst management team coordinates important, urgent and sometimes difficult issues with the owners. Trust and reliability play an important role in this cooperation and result in consistently positive experiences.

The marriage of industry expertise and future defining technologies, has resulted in sustainable, highly versatile and productive technology that delivers. This is particularly true, because the company’s single-pass presses are perfect for application versatility. In addition, they all use water-based, food-safe inks.

Koenig & Bauer Durst’s market-proven Delta SPC 130 is a firm favourite with customers across the world, including four installations at Schumacher Packaging, of which the latest has been installed in Birmingham, UK. 

The VariJET 106 would not have existed without Koenig & Bauer Durst

The VariJET 106 – the company’s major digital development in folding carton markets – is now a reality. At drupa 24, delegates experienced running samples on a regular basis. Some of these have been produced in Switzerland by SCHELLING AG, one of Koenig & Bauer Durst’s customer sites. 

The company has also shown game-changing industry firsts. For example, its breakthrough of printing on mainly brown substrates with water-based digital white for corrugated substrates in primary food packaging for the Delta SPC 130.

Anthony Memme, Digital Print Manager from Atlantic Packaging, which installed one of the first Koeing & Bauer Durst Delta SPC 130s in Canada, explains how it will transform service delivery. “We do a lot of food, food contact, food ready packaging, such as pizza and produce boxes. Being able to put down a white and get high-definition, full-colour graphics on a kraft substrate is going to be transformative in our industry. Up until now, 
I have not seen any print method print this quality and vibrancy of colour on uncoated and kraft materials.”

Collaboration is also a cornerstone for ongoing development. This was seen in action at drupa 24 with Highcon and Scodix. Following an on-stand print run, the team wanted to see how the printed sheet could be brought to life by transforming it into a complete, shelf-ready package. After a quick conversation with the experts at Highcon and Scodix, its Beam 2 digital die-cutting system and the Ultra 6500 SHD embellishment capabilities transformed the work in minutes. It was the perfect demonstration of purely digital, same-day turnaround.