Factoid: Founded in 1817 by Friedrich Koenig and Andreas Friedrich Bauer, Koenig & Bauer is the oldest printing press manufacturer in the world which is still in service
In 2019 Koenig & Bauer Durst was formed in order to strength the two companies’ digital, folding carton, corrugated, and software solutions. Speaking of the combination of different technologies, Jochen Sproll, strategy and business development manager at Koenig & Bauer Durst, says: “By combining the very best of conventional and digital printing in the folding carton and corrugated markets, we can support corrugated and folding carton printers/converters who want to increase process efficiency, flexibility, and work even more closely with brands and retailers who recognise that they need to digitise their production environments. We can offer them the best of both worlds.”
Speaking of changes in the industry, Koenig & Bauer Durst emphasises that packaging is one of the strongest mediums for communication between brands and customers. The company says that ever decreasing run-lengths and shorter lead times mean that productive presses are needed to enable converters to manage complexity with lower operating costs and high-quality print results.
When it comes to digital printing in packaging, Sproll explains: “Digital printing is reshaping the folding carton market by enabling rapid, flexible, and sustainable production solutions. While it’s not a replacement for traditional methods, its role is growing, particularly for shorter runs, design flexibility, versioning, and agile production needs. A large portion of folding carton converters see the future of the packaging industry as a hybrid approach, combining digital and conventional printing to balance cost, scale, and customisation needs.
“The VariJET 106 single-pass press, a collaborative development by Durst and Koenig & Bauer specifically for the folding carton markets, will transform business operations. Among its big strengths is the outstanding colour-to-colour registration and machine stability ensuring high uptimes. Black negative can be printed in as little as 4pt font even with the densest black. It is especially useful with barcode work when every job is different.”
Sproll also highlights the continued success of certain areas of the market: “All-in-one production – particularly with embellishment possible for anything from tobacco packaging to pharmaceutical applications – is also becoming increasingly important. The VariJET 106 can run at 5,550sph in line embellishment in B1 digital format. Digital packaging printing on the VariJET eliminates time-consuming processes such as colour matching for new packaging products. From concept to market-ready product, the timeline will be reduced from weeks to just days.”
Evidently lithographic technology is here to stay, with digital printing no longer being a threat but a worthy companion to many businesses that use offset printing. While we don’t know what future innovations and technologies may hold, currently it is hard to disagree that these long-standing companies know what they are talking about, and while some are embracing digital technology more than others, ultimately, there’s still space in the market for both litho and digital.
