By Charlotte Neumair, Specialist & Team Lead at Circular Analytics
Meeting the regulatory framework for food safety, security and sustainability in packaging is going to cause a lot of headaches in the coming months and years.
Although converters will not be as affected by brand owners since they still have a pretty good playground, now is the time for preparation because the new rules with dozens of new requirements from 2030.
By then all packaging must be recyclable by design and recyclable at scale, with tighter restrictions on plastic packaging and single-use bans.
Rushing up even faster is the new EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) that introduces several key guidelines for packaging from 2028 onwards.
Data gaps and unclear communication along the supply chain make it challenging to meet all new requirements.
My experience shows that converters are entering a phase where preparation is becoming critical. But when they need to make fast changes on packaging, and sometimes industrial scale production for fast turnarounds, at least packaging produced digital has many benefits.
Here are a few pointers to help with the new regulations:
New packaging, new processes – they all take time. And printing is only one element in the overall production process where all elements are crucial.
The bottom line is act now. Don’t wait until every step is defined.
You might also like to read other blogs on our website:
By Andreas Friedrich, Koenig & Bauer’s Vice President Sales, Asia Pacific
Thailand’s printing industry is thriving, with numerous brand owners serving both domestic and export markets. We’re excited to meet in person at Pack Print International in Bangkok, 17-20 September!
Koenig & Bauer is renowned for its offset machinery and engineering excellence. Durst is known for its advanced digital printing solutions. By combining their strengths, the two companies created a joint venture that developed the VariJET 106 – a flagship single-pass inkjet folding carton press, unique in the global digital printing market for packaging converting. At this show, we can’t wait to bring this technology closer to our visitors in South East Asia.
Looking at data from the last three event, about 75% of attendees come from Thailand, with the rest representing international visitors across ASEAN and beyond. With such a strong audience, our team is eager to engage with packaging converters exploring digital printing. The VariJET won’t be physically on display, but it will be one of the key topics for discussion. We’ll have plenty of print samples to share and discuss, helping visitors see its potential and benefits firsthand.
With offset-like quality and a modular system combining digital and conventional Rapida offset technology, the VariJET gives converters the best of both worlds. They can choose which products to produce digitally or conventionally, and even add customized features to every sheet. Packaging converters are ready to meet the near-future demands of their brand owners, as already seen in European markets.
Do you want to find out more and be among the first?
Come meet us at our booth N02!
Guest blog by Markus Weiss, CEO of Koenig & Bauer Paper & Packaging
With nearly two decades of experience in the printing sector, I bring a deep understanding of digital transformation and its potential.
Now as CEO of Koenig & Bauer Paper & Packaging Sheetfed Systems, my priority is to position Koenig & Bauer as a comprehensive solution provider and Trusted Advisor. This includes developing innovative business models that drive the complementary use of offset and digital printing in the packaging and commercial printing industries.
Whereas offset printing remains the leading technology in packaging and commercial printing, digital printing is becoming increasingly important.
The optimal combination of both technologies opens up new growth opportunities for our customers and shows that their joint use will shape the future of the printing industry.
This is especially true with increasing numbers of innovative solutions in the prepress and postpress adding to the possibilities.
Our aim is to make our customers even more successful and helping them to differentiate from competition. This is why we provide our customers with holistic system solutions encompassing PrePress (software), Press (offset and digital), and PostPress (finishing), enabled by intelligent automation and leveraging AI for maximum production efficiency.
With the VariJET 106 – a joint development between ourselves and Durst Group – we provide a very good and unique technical solution for folding carton markets.
My personal opinion is that it is super-critical to be getting run lengths up to 7.000 sheets per hour on the VariJET 106 and develop even more new applications.
The VariJET 106 has an important part to play in the future, albeit one piece of the jigsaw.
I look forward to expanding the boundaries of what is possible in complementary printing and our comprehensive automation solutions, and to positioning us as a leading comprehensive solution provider and strengthening our position as THE Trusted Advisor in this dynamic market.
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.
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.
Koenig & Bauer recently hosted an Open House event, where it showcased solutions for expanding business models for packaging production.
Live presentations from highvolume production, through medium runs to short-run segments were demonstrated, as well as acting as a platform for in-depth exchange with experts from various Koenig & Bauer business units.
It was the chance to see the company’s complete solutions for folding carton production for packaging printers, converters, and commercial printers.
Guest blog by Thomas Goeke, Customer Experience and Marketing, Koenig & Bauer
Knowledge sharing, a celebration of achievements and future-forward approaches with partnerships based on trust… all among the overwhelmingly positive feedback to our recent Open House.
A heartfelt thank you to all the attendees at our ‘Expand Your Business Model’ event over two weeks at our Sheetfed division headquarters in Radebeul, Germany.
I have a strong belief in the need to inspire customers and provide value with our total one-stop shop approach.
It wasn’t just a showcase for die-cutting, folder-gluer and offset and digital printing processes, we were able to communicate our complete value proposition as a trusted partner.
Guests were able to see live demonstrations of integrated, innovative technology in an inspiring environment covering solutions in folding carton, label, commercial, and corrugated board sectors.
We covered everything from high-volume to short-run production, digital and showed the myKana digital ecosystem portal, including AI-supported products that add tangible added value for product optimisation.
One of the undoubted highlights was the “From Zero to Carton Hero” in 15 minutes, the timeframe it takes to complete a folding carton production value chain from sheet to finished product.
And of course, the VariJET digital production machine from Koenig & Bauer Durst was another!
Witnessing the positive reaction from a fully focused audience every day was truly awe-inspiring.
As a one-stop solutions provider, we enable our customers to be successful.
We help them to look beyond products, understand the pain points and develop a profitable business model to help them grow with good guidance.
If you missed our “Expand Your Business Model” Open House, you can find out more here or here.
Guest blog by Ian Schofield, Packaging and Sustainability Specialist
Are end-users making the most out of the new water-based digital printing technology?
Understanding the benefits is vital and there are a number to consider. For example, on these presses you can confidently achieve what is required in terms of:
All these advancements are now starting to happen and are shaping some production approaches that are set to be defining.
Connective packaging is one fast-growing trend and is now massive for the digital market. The ability to print unique bar codes on individual packs is going to continue to be huge for many markets. However, you cannot do that conventionally.
Other benefits of digital printing are print run lengths. Whether you run one, two,10 or 10,000 it doesn’t matter. You can have an individual print or you can do all 10,000.
The big runs now are not a big issue for these machines.
Another important consideration is sustainability, which will continue to be impactful too.
Is water-based digital printing more sustainable than current printing? The LCA’s have still to be proven. However, thankfully, it’s looking good compared to conventional printing.
I was delighted to share these benefits – and more – with important stakeholders from the packaging industry at a recent exclusive Corrugated Workshop hosted by Koenig & Bauer Durst to discuss the future and role of digital printing from a converter’s point of view.
You can find out more on which digital printing benefits could help define a successful future for your operation by talking directly to Koenig & Bauer Durst.
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
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