Guest blog by Dr. Carolin Müller, Product Management, Protection Technologies Koenig & Bauer Vision & Protection

In a fast-moving world where the only constant is change, here’s a sneak preview of a new product we’re officially unveiling this autumn.

And why specifically Koenig & Bauer Durst’s LinkedIn platform? Well, in addition to being asked to provide input for this blog, the VariJET 106 is of huge interest for this new protection product called ‘Aegis’.

Brands producing luxury goods and otherwise exposed – for example, pharmaceuticals, tobacco or confectionery – are wary of fraud or counterfeiting issues and need to assure their customers of the integrity and traceability of high-value purchases.

The Koenig & Bauer Vision & Protection industry-recognised protection technology is called Stegano, which ensures products are protected by hidden data. My colleague, Marc Hunsänger, provided an insight here.

Now we’ve taken this a step further with our ‘Aegis Protect’ that will be officially unveiled in September, which will include a series of high-profile roadshows in the UK, Europe and North America.

In essence, Aegis Protect is an easy-to-apply varnish protection. Every varnish provides added value, is not recognisable but is optically readable and has the security features integrated, not added.

It secures like a vault but without any visible lock. Decoding is carried out by verification checks with the open platform ava (a verification app), which is technology agnostic and multi-factor ready.

We’re already working with some of the Koenig & Bauer Durst customers who need to enhance security for their own clients.

We see Aegis Protect as being extremely important for the VariJET 106 – and can help sales.

And one of the spin-off benefits is that the amount of varnish required for jobs is significantly reduced because, with Aegis, there is raster manipulation.

Find out more about the VariJET here: VariJET 106 – Koenig & Bauer Durst Digital Packaging Print

Find out more about Stegano here: https://www.koenig-bauer.com/en/products/p/stegano

The product name Aegis stems from the modern use of the word for protection and support, often symbolizing a shield or defence in various contexts. It has its roots in ancient mythology, primarily linked to Greek culture. See here for more details.

Guest blog by Marc Hunsänger, Director Protection Technologies, Koenig & Bauer Vision & Protection

Proud of our heritage as the world’s first security press manufacturer, we’ve come a long way in the world of printing.

And as digital natives with more than a dozen years of app development experience, we make protection scalable and smart. Using cryptographic principles, your information stays private and secure.

Stegano is the name of our technology that ensures products are protected by hidden data. It also provides fast offline decoding and built-in connectivity. It can modify every single folding carton on a production line, providing unique, hidden serialisation.

With Stegano we can manipulate the printing for every single folding carton but with the huge advantage that the design won’t be visually altered. With an algorithm we can create new “information” that can be written text or a symbol.

It’s impossible to see the hidden information with the naked eye. But you can decode it with our app.

In terms of new possibilities, Koenig & Bauer Durst’s VariJET 106 is probably the most exciting development we’ve ever come across in recent years.

This digital press can modify folding cartons for each item (-> serialisation), no other conventional printing press can do it.

The advantages for customers using the VariJET 106 for protection purposes include:

• no additional costs (no new inks or other additives)
• printing process and brand design stay untouched
• decreased varnish costs due to Stegano implemented in a varnish plate
• added protection for brands
• traceability – you can give each single folding carton a hidden ID and follow their path -> grey market detection

For all these reasons and more, the VariJET is the perfect press.

Find out more about the VariJET here: VariJET 106 – Koenig & Bauer Durst Digital Packaging Print

Find out more about Stegano here: https://www.koenig-bauer.com/en/products/p/stegano

By Mark Richards, Sales & New Business Development Director, Mondi Birmingham, Corrugated Solutions

The global cost of counterfeiting and piracy was estimated to reach more than $3.2 trillion in 2022.

But that is not all, counterfeiting also eats into a brand’s integrity, operational efficiency and impacts consumer trust.

Packaging is the final opportunity a brand has to protect itself against this threat.

The counterfeiters’ likelihood for success can considerably be reduced by packaging that:

• is upgraded to high-end print – both primary and secondary
• incorporates unique variable data strategies
• uses complex print designs
• enables the regular changing of print runs.

Digital print’s variable data capabilities can also help by providing access to full traceability with the addition of unique coding on each primary or secondary pack.

The pack can be traced through the supply chain and even back to the point of packing or date of production.

This traceability and transparency help prevent counterfeiting while also providing peace of mind.

Contact us to explore more about how you can implement these measures.