Mondi has expanded its portfolio with a high-performance digital printing solution, enabling customised, high-volume packaging following the acquisition of Schumacher Packaging’s Western European operations.
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:
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
1817: Koenig & Bauer is founded – the world’s oldest printing press manufacturer
1936: Durst begins its journey as a pioneer for photography and imaging technologies
2025: Shaping the future of the print industry – together as Koenig & Bauer Durst
We bring together the best of both worlds – Koenig & Bauer’s centuries of mechanical engineering expertise and Durst’s digital innovation power. Our focus: folding carton, corrugated, and software solutions for packaging printing.
Jochen Sproll, our Strategy and Business Development Manager, sums it up perfectly: “The combination of conventional and digital printing is a win for the entire industry – processes become more efficient, more flexible, and more sustainable.”
Why?
Because the packaging market is evolving rapidly.
To remain competitive, packaging production processes must become more efficient – without compromising on the ability to deliver or print quality.
Digital packaging printing is:
But: It doesn’t replace offest in the near future. That’s why we focus on hybrid solutions that combine the strengths of both technologies.
A prime example: Our VariJET 106 – co-developed by Koenig & Bauer and Durst. It unites the expertise of both companies!
Conventional and digital printing are not opposites. They are partners – working side by side for a future-ready print industry.
Want to dive deeper into the topic of offset and digital printing.
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:
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.
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.
Daniel Velema, CEO of Koenig & Bauer Durst in an interview with David Zwang of WhatTheyThink on the importance of agility and adaptability in volatile and uncertain times.
Madrid, February 07, 2025 – Petit, a family-owned leader in the corrugated cardboard production and conversion sector in the Iberian Peninsula, has reached an agreement with Koenig & Bauer Durst to start the digitalization of point of sale (POS) and packaging production.
This agreement begins with the installation of a single-pass digital inkjet Delta SPC 130 printing line supplied with water-based inks, which will be carried out during the first half of 2025.
With this strategic investment, Petit reaffirms its commitment to sustainability and technological progress, consolidating its position as a leader in innovation and digitalization in the sector, while teaming up with a supplier that has the full back-up off two leading companies in their respective markets, Durst and Koenig & Bauer.
About Petit
Founded in 1933, Petit is one of the leading companies in the production and conversion of corrugated cardboard applications in the Iberian Peninsula. Its commitment since its foundation has been its commitment to constant adaptation to the needs of the market, guaranteeing the most demanding quality standards.
From L to R – Neil Williams, Northern UK & Ireland Sales Manager (Durst UK & Ireland); Daniel Velema, Managing Director (Koenig & Bauer Durst); Bauke van der Molen Kuipers, Departing Interim Managing Director (Schumacher Packaging Birmingham); Ian Walker, Digital Print Team Leader (Schumacher Packaging Birmingham); Matthias Krautgasser, Senior Product Manager (Koenig & Bauer Durst); Darren Melville, Managing Director (Schumacher Packaging Birmingham); and Saad Ahmad, Finance Director (Schumacher Birmingham).
Radebeul, Germany 04.02.2025
Koenig & Bauer Durst has announced that Schumacher Packaging Birmingham has started full commercial digital production with its Delta SPC 130 single pass high volume digital press for corrugated markets.
The FlexLine Eco+ with six colours is the first installation in the UK and will be a central focal point as Schumacher Packaging expands its presence in UK markets as one of the UK’s leading plain and printed cardboard manufacturers.
Koenig & Bauer Durst’s Delta SPC 130 – part of its portfolio providing the most automated, productive, single pass water-based presses suitable for food packaging – will be a key presentation focus for Schumacher Packaging Birmingham with its presence at Packaging Innovations (Stand K76) at the nearby NEC on February 13-14. Jochen Sproll, Koenig & Bauer Durst’s Strategy & Business Development Manager, will also be on the stand.
Schumacher Packaging Birmingham, together with Koenig & Bauer Durst, will also be hosting an official Open Day at its plant on March 13 from 09.00 to 14.00.
The Koenig & Bauer Durst Delta SPC 130 in Birmingham is the fourth taken on by Schumacher Packaging. Two others are at its headquarters in Ebersdorf, Germany, and the another is at Saica in Wroclav, Poland, formerly Schumacher Packaging. They also have six-color capabilities. The installation is at the heart of a €30 million euro investment that also involves upgrading its Birmingham manufacturing base and two nearby warehouses.
Koenig & Bauer Durst’s FlexLine Eco+ press features an eco-plus drier that reduces drying times to cut energy consumption and associated costs, as well as speeding up productivity for maximised capacity. The Delta SPC 130 can print on uncoated materials with speeds of up to 80 meters per minute.
Darren Melville, Managing Director of Schumacher Packaging Birmingham, said: “As an innovator and pioneer in the industry, we want to show new ways of working towards sustainable production. And moving to sustainable, cost-saving digital production is a centrepiece of our strategy, which is why we are delighted to have launched full-scale commercial digital production with the Delta SPC 130 from Koenig & Bauer Durst. This is a true partnership.
“As consumers become more environmentally conscious, brands are under increasing pressure to adopt eco-friendly packaging solutions. Many are working towards ambitious 2025 extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging targets. This is where the best of corrugated board and digital print can converge to deliver recyclable packaging with zero-waste designs.”
Daniel Velema, Managing Director of Koenig & Bauer Durst, said: “With the increasing emphasis on sustainability, companies such as Schumacher Packaging recognize the huge benefits that digital brings with highly automated systems in corrugated packaging and board markets. They and their customers can see the benefits of changing from offset and flexo, particularly as run lengths are getting smaller and order lead times become ever shorter.
“Digital printing, in essence only printing what you want, when you need it, has always been a technology with strong sustainability credentials and an opportunity to reduce paper consumption. The ability now to add paper weight reductions to further lower cost and consumption is also a very powerful argument for digital transformation.”
The Delta SPC 130 – a Schumacher Packaging success story
Ralf Sammeck, CEO of Koenig & Bauer Sheetfed, and Daniel Velema, Managing Director, Koenig & Bauer Durst in the new dedicated hall in Radebeul
Radebeul, Germany 14.01.2025
A unique opportunity to see and test digital, offset and post-print production on a single site is now a reality with the opening in Radebeul, Germany, of a dedicated hall for the VariJET 106, the hybrid press for folding cartons jointly developed by Durst and Koenig & Bauer.
Customers and visitors can now bring their own print files and substrates to see for themselves the flexibility, sustainability and cost-competitive opportunities afforded by Koenig & Bauer Durst’s VariJET 106 modular, single-pass press, which had its public debut at drupa. The 700 square meter hall is part of the global Customer Experience Center at Koenig & Bauer’s Sheetfed division headquarters, near Dresden, which is now part of the Paper & Packaging Sheetfed Systems (P&P) segment.
“The new dedicated hall for the VariJET 106 digital, hybrid press for folding carton markets represents another important step in our evolution,” said Daniel Velema, Managing Director, Koenig & Bauer Durst. “The opening means the Customer Experience Center is the one and only place where you can see and test digital, offset and post-print production at a single site. This is where prospects from all over the world can test the VariJET 106 for themselves using their own files and substrates. This ability to advise across print and finishing technologies is driven by our ambition to first and foremost understand & support your business needs & opportunities, and talk about technology second.
“We showed at drupa what is possible with full digital – digital printing, embellishment and finishing. Now we would like to show guests the next steps in the digital revolution for folding carton markets. Reach out to your local representatives, we would love to welcome you to Radebeul. For those who haven’t been there yet, the Koenig & Bauer Customer Experience Center – for press and machine demonstrations, application testing, the development of new technologies and for training purposes – focuses on specialized areas of packaging like folding carton, commercial and label production.”
Daniel added: “Ever since the VariJET 106 Customer Experience Center opened, Koenig & Bauer Durst has been running back-to-back print tests with customers and brands from all key geographies being represented: North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. We are particularly pleased by the interest of Asian customers who don’t shy away from making the trip to Germany!
“Successfully tested applications include cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, healthcare and food. We work closely together and explore hands-on what Koenig & Bauer Durst can improve to better meet market demands.”
The VariJET 106, which runs 5,500 B1 sheets per hour, combines the best of both worlds – digital inkjet and classic offset printing. The VariJET 106 uses water-based inkjet inks (CMYK plus orange, green & violet), primers & coatings to provide the highest print quality at a most competitive cost level, while supporting current and upcoming food safety and sustainability regulation. It leverages on Koenig & Bauer’s standard high performance Rapida 106 platform and Durst printhead electronics, inkjet expertise and Durst workflow and RIP technology. This includes Durst Analytics, Smartshop and Workflow.
Koenig & Bauer and Durst first announced they had joined forces and set up an independent joint venture company in 2019. The VariJET 106 is the first product jointly designed and developed by the two companies. Already in production and part of the Koenig & Bauer Durst portfolio are the Delta SPC 130 Series and the CorruJET 170 Series – aimed at corrugated packaging.
The VariJET 106 in the new dedicated hall in Radebeul
Koenig & Bauer Durst GmbH
Friedrich-Koenig-Str. 4
97080 Würzburg
Germany
Phone: +49 931 909 0
Email: info@koenig-bauer-durst.com
Koenig & Bauer Durst GmbH
Friedrich-Koenig-Str. 4
97080 Würzburg
Germany
Phone: +49 931 909 0
Email: info@koenig-bauer-durst.com