Koenig & Bauer Durst launches VariJet 106

Packaging Solutions

Koenig & Bauer Durst GmbH has unveiled the VariJet 106 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 the two companies, 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 Centre, senior executives unveiled further insights into Koenig & Bauer’s packaging strategy. Updates were provided on how the digitalisation of business processes for new products and services is progressing.

The B1 5500 sheets per hour press combines the best of both worlds – digital inkjet and classic offset printing. The V106 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 platform is based on Koenig & Bauer’s standard high performance Rapida 106 platform and Durst printhead electronics, inkjet expertise, workflow and RIP technology. This includes Durst Analytics, Smartshop and Workflow.

Using seven colour 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 utilising proprietary water based ink technology. It can produce personalised and individualised print products or alternate between short and medium runs.

Koenig & Bauer and Durst first announced it had joined forces and set up an independent joint venture company in 2019. The VariJet 106 is the first product jointly 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 devices are designed with core technologies to provide automated, productive, food safe printing systems. They deliver shorter response times, more variants, shorter run lengths, individualisation 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 customisation will be working with us in partnership. Feedback from our customers is that shorter run lengths, mass customisation 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 customise without any compromise on quality. We deliver on this.’