Koenig & Bauer Durst GmbH has unveiled the VariJET 106 in a world premiere with exclusive live demonstrations for customers and stakeholders in Radebeul, near Dresden, Germany, where the modular single pass sheetfed digital printing press for the folding carton market has been jointly developed by Koenig & Bauer and Durst.
Using market-proven industrial expertise from Durst and Koenig & Bauer, beta testing is due to start in the coming weeks. The first units of the VariJET 106 are due to be installed at customer sites in Europe and America in the second half of 2022. Target groups include pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, tobacco and food industries, as well as folding carton converters.
At the launch, which included presentations in the Customer Experience Center, senior executives unveiled further insights into Koenig & Bauer’s packaging strategy. Updates were provided on how the digitalization of business processes for new products and services is progressing.
The B1 5,500sph press combines the best of both worlds – digital inkjet and classic offset printing. The VariJET 106 is based on water-based inkjet processes to provide the highest print quality. The innovative digital printing system is at the heart of the collaborative development between Koenig & Bauer and Durst. The VariJET 106 platform is based 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.
Using 7 color water-based food compliant inkjet technology (CMYK plus orange, green and violet), the VariJET 106 is suitable for food applications that meet the stringent requirements for food safe primary packaging utilizing proprietary water-based ink technology. The VariJET 106 can produce personalized and individualized print products or alternate between short and medium runs.
The VariJET 106 offers:
The VariJET 106, Delta SPC 130 and CorruJET 170 are designed with core technologies to provide automated, productive, food safe printing systems. They deliver shorter response times, more variants, shorter run lengths, individualization and enable more and more small value orders. They also answer the increasing customer demand for brand security, sustainability and the ability to meet brand owners’ requirements for multichannel communication including e-commerce.
Robert Stabler, Managing Director, Koenig & Bauer Durst, said: “This world premiere marks a proud moment – and what a journey it has been! We are really excited by the progress we have made and the opportunities with our VariJET 106 despite these testing times. We have beta sites at an advanced stage of planning. These potential customers already have a vision for mass customization will be working with us in partnership Feedback from our customers is that shorter run lengths, mass customization and the need to be more agile are the compelling reasons for moving to digital production.
“Successful companies need to be able to embrace the trends that are occurring and offer solutions. Brand owners continually want their products to stand out, require shorter lead times, while at the same time eliminate waste and conform to sustainability and track-and-trace requirements. Brand owners are also looking to ensure the new production methods are reliable, compliant and cost effective while converters need to have the capabilities and competencies to mass customize without any compromise on quality. We deliver on this.”
Strong booth drew attendees to learn about the complete portfolio of large corrugated packaging products.
Koenig & Bauer Durst enjoyed success visiting with show-goers at SuperCorrExpo, one of the most influential corrugated packaging-focused trade shows in the Western Hemisphere, which was held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando in August. The firm’s experts were on hand to answer prospective customer questions and provide information on its latest products and developments for the corrugated market.
“We were excited to join this event and visit with attendees who came to our booth to explore how Koenig & Bauer can support their corrugated printing needs,” said Jürgen Gruber, Product Manager Digital & Corrugated Printing Technology for Koenig & Bauer US. “Our new CorruCUT HQPP brings a maximum production output of 12,000 boards per hour, including setup while running, integrated remote maintenance for the ultimate uptime, and the easiest machine to operate. It generated a lot of interest at our booth due to its revolutionary new innovations. We are deeply committed to our corrugated customers and are supporting them with our complete portfolio of corrugated products.”
The booth drew attendees who were especially keen to learn more about the inkjet products from Koenig & Bauer Durst, especially its CorruJET 170 and Delta SPC 130 FlexLine Automatic corrugated production press.
Developed specifically for the corrugated industry, the brand new CorruJET provides digital direct printing on corrugated board sheets. The CorruJET is engineered for the highly efficient production of corrugated sheets with top-quality digital printing. Operating with a maximum production speed of 5,500 sheets/hour, the CorruJET can process corrugated board up to a thickness of 8 mm.
The Koenig & Bauer Durst Delta SPC 130 FlexLine Automatic corrugated production press adapts single-pass technology for the corrugated industry. This combines a well-engineered mechanical design with easily accessible sub-assemblies and selected components to guarantee durable quality, high performance and reliability. The Delta SPC 130 is equipped with Durst’s SPC drop-on-demand print head technology and has a non-hazardous ink system and an IR/UV drying process designed for high productivity.
The Delta SPC 130 can be configured with up to six colors, printing any length of corrugated cardboard or paper media of up to 12mm in thickness. The printing system offers unrivaled versatility, low maintenance requirements and 24/7 dependability.
“We were pleased to display our joint venture between Koenig & Bauer and Durst at SuperCorrExpo and allow attendees to learn about our all-encompassing portfolio,” says Oliver Baar, senior product manager at Koenig & Bauer Durst. “We had some great conversations with everyone who visited our booth and it was clear that automation and productivity are key talking points in our industry.”
By Matthias Krautgasser, Product Manager, CorrugatedSegment, Koenig & Bauer Durst
Cheers! Here’s to our next SPC 130 Open House on October 4-5 at theDurst Innovation Center East in Lienz, Austria, which follows on fromour successful face-to-face event in June. Read more
Customers have added their voice to the ongoing packaging debate at an ‘inspirational’ second SPC Open House – entitled “New Times, New Challenges and New Opportunities – in Lienz, Austria, organized by Koenig & Bauer Durst.
Jochen Drösel, Chief Sales Officer at Schumacher Group, was a keynote panelist at the event that highlighted future trends, challenges, and opportunities for corrugated board markets, as well as the wider implications for retail and other industries. Breakout sessions at the Durst Innovation Center East also included deep insights into the Delta SPC 130 Automatic single-pass press that uses water-based food-safe inks.
The success of Schumacher Group, an early adopter of Koenig & Bauer’s Delta SPC 130 single pass press for the corrugated packaging market, has led to an investment in a second machine. At the SPC Open House, Mr Drösel shared his perspectives on their relationships with brand owners and digital packaging journey, which Schumacher Group sees as the future for print production in corrugated markets.
Robert Stabler, Managing Director of Koenig & Bauer Durst, said: “This was a truly inspirational event, with real audience interaction and insightful content from leaders in the corrugated industry that generated extremely positive feedback. The perspective brought a new dimension and perspective to the debates we have over the future of packaging.
“Converters need to be ahead of the regulatory change curve and to be ready for the increased focus of brands on sustainability and have the capabilities and competencies to mass customize without any compromise on quality. Brand owners are demanding that new production methods are reliable, compliant and cost effective. Therefore, in a live setting we were able to look at how single pass digital printing helps converters meet the evolving demands of brand owners in a world of shorter lead times, short run lengths and greater forecast unpredictability.”
Koenig & Bauer Durst will be hosting a third SPC Open House at the Durst East Innovation Center, Lienz, on February 10 2022.
Rondo Ganahl, one of the world’s foremost corrugated board and packaging manufacturers, has unveiled plans for a new dedicated digital production plant after a dramatic surge in sales driven by an investment in the Koenig & Bauer Durst Delta SPC 130 FlexLine Automatic press.
The Delta SPC 130 with its water-based ink technology is providing the solutions demanded by brands that are needed for the food packaging industry. With lead times reducing, Rondo says there is huge potential in the technology where the excellent print quality matches litho production.
Sales are racing ahead so fast in digital printing for Rondo that a new digital production plant will be opened on the site at St Ruprecht an der Raab, Austria, in the autumn of 2021. The firm, which is part of the Rondo Group that has six plants across Europe, started digital production two years ago. About 90% of the Rondo digital printing business is for the food industry.
Karl Pucher, Managing Director of Rondo Ganahl, St Ruprecht an der Raab, said: “We come traditionally from flexo and offset printing and had been talking about moving into digital production for a long time. Two years ago, we decided to make the move, and we’re very happy that we did. Digital corrugated production has grown every year between 25 and 30% and customers are making repeat orders, which is very important.
“During these Covid times we see that lead times are going down and artworks are changed a lot at short notice. Being able to print digitally means we are flexible and able to deliver the requirements in a very short time. This is what brands are demanding. The Delta SPC 130 with its water-based technology from Durst is providing the solutions that we need for delivery to the food industry. The growth in sales has been so big that we decided to build a new facility for digital printing. And we hope to move in during the autumn.”
Mr Pucher added: “We did not buy a machine. We bought into a complete system that also includes software for areas such as order management, color management and automation. Digital printing is also providing answers for the global debate on the use of plastic packaging, which obviously extends to food and safety. Using the food safety compliant inks in primary and secondary food packaging means we can create corrugated board packaging to be used as an alternative to plastic. We are in a good place with this system, one that I can very much recommend.”
Robert Stabler, Managing Director, Koenig & Bauer Durst, said: “With fast shifts in demand, converters increasingly recognise that they need a reliable, versatile and all-in-one digital solution to meet brands requirements for fast turnaround of jobs. Rondo is a perfect example of how companies can ensure jobs run seamlessly through their plants by investing in complete workflows and color management systems. We work closely in a partnership approach with Rondo to ensure their teams can meet the new demands, including using the water-based inks to ensure food safety compliance for primary packaging.”
Koenig & Bauer Durst has unveiled further updates for its Delta SPC 130 FlexLine Automatic corrugated production press that provides industrial solutions for run lengths from one to millions.
New water-based orange and violet inks have been launched to ensure food safety compliance for primary packaging and extend the color gamut. This will positively impact upon brand management for brand owners, particularly in producing colour saturations on packaging samples and spot colors. With around 50% of corrugated packaging in food and beverage, the ink set also ensures that converters can invest knowing they will be ahead of the increasingly complex regulatory change curve.
Koenig & Bauer Durst has also announced new automation features for the Delta SPC 130 FlexLine Automatic that will ensure high productivity and can be integrated into existing customer workflows. Enhanced image quality and special effects, as well as cost reduction, are among the benefits from a new digital primer. New effects that are possible include print embellishment on corrugated board with uncoated media.
The Delta SPC 130 FlexLine Automatic combines a well-engineered mechanical design with easily accessible sub-assemblies and selected components to guarantee durable quality, high performance and reliability. It can manage small formats from 500 x 600mm through to very large formats with maximum dimensions of 1,300 x 2,800 mm and print a maximum thickness of 12 mm with water-based, food safe inks. The Delta SPC 130 FlexLine Automatic machine includes non-stop feeder, four-colour single-pass printing, drying and cooling section and non-stop stacker.
The Delta SPC 130 is part of the Koenig & Bauer Durst portfolio of solutions for corrugated converters. Another is the CorruJET 170 that post-prints sheets of corrugated up to 1.7m wide at up to 135m/min. The B1 6,000sph VariJET 106 completes the line-up and targets the folding carton market.
The presses meet the stringent requirements for food safe primary packaging utilizing proprietary water-based ink technology and are designed with core technologies to provide automated, productive, food safe printing systems. They deliver shorter response times, more variants, shorter run lengths, individualization and enable more and more small value orders. They also answer the increasing customer demand for brand security, sustainability and the ability to meet brand owners’ requirements for multichannel communication including e-commerce.
Robert Stabler, Managing Director, Koenig & Bauer Durst, said: “All these innovations for our Delta SPC 130 FlexLine Automatic are designed to exceed market needs. Food safety and packaging is a constant topic of conversation. These new water-based inks will ensure food safety compliance for primary packaging and extend the color gamut, which, in turn, will impact positively on brand management for brand owners. Brand owners are demanding that new production methods are reliable, compliant and cost effective while converters need to have the capabilities and competencies to mass customize without any compromise on quality.”
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