KBA and Xerox Join Forces to target folding carton market with new digital press.
KBA-VariJET-106-Powered-by-XeroxIn an interesting development, KBA Sheetfed Solutions, a business unit of the Koenig & Bauer Group (KBA), and Xerox has announced a partnership to develop an industrial digital sheetfed press for the folding carton market. Up to now, wide format cartons, for items such as cosmetics, food and pharmaceutical products, has had to use traditional analogue offset production printing. The new joint venture intends to change all that by offering printers a digital alternative.
The KBA VariJET® 106 Powered by Xerox integrates Xerox Impika® inkjet technology into the KBA Rapida® 106 press platform. Currently in the final stages of development, the press will print 4,500 B1 750 x 1060 millimetres (29.5 x 41.7 inches) sheets per hour. Its modular concept enables the combination of digital inkjet printing with optional in-line capabilities such as coating, cold foil application, rotary die-cutting, creasing and perforating.
Globally, digitally printed packaging is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 16 per cent between 2015 and 2020. Within that sector, digitally printed folding cartons have been forecast to expand at an amazing CAGR of 40 per cent. The KBA VariJET 106 Press brings the benefits of digital printing to this market such as running multiple versions of the same carton as well as customised cartons which will open up new business opportunities for industrial production printers.
“As a leader in package printing our customers are confirming that this is exactly the product they need for the market opportunity that exists,” said Ralf Sammeck, CEO of KBA-Sheetfed Solutions. “Xerox’s inkjet technology coupled with our packaging expertise combines proven technologies to bring the right product to market at the right time.”
Powered by Xerox logo on the new digital sheetfed press “By combining digital capabilities like cross media marketing, digital storefronts, and automated workflows with those of classic offset printing, our customers will be able to offer new products not seen in the traditional packaging market to their customers,” added Robert Stabler, general manager, Graphic Communications Business Group, Xerox. “The KBA VariJET 106 Powered by Xerox will have the flexibility, format and speed to help print providers capture this growing market opportunity.”
KBA and Xerox will share additional details on the new press concept during presentations at their respective stands at drupa 2016.
Availability
The KBA VariJET 106 powered by Xerox will be available to customers beginning in 2017.
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