VariJET 106 press is primarily designed for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, tobacco and food industries, as well as folding carton converters
Spotlight on the VariJET 106 at the premier in Radebeul. (Credit: Koenig & Bauer AG)
Koenig & Bauer Durst has unveiled a new modular single-pass sheetfed digital printing press, dubbed VariJET 106, for the folding carton market.
The new single-pass digital press, which is jointly developed by Koenig & Bauer and Durst, will enter into beta testing in the coming weeks.
VariJET 106 single-pass sheetfed digital printing press is mainly designed for customers in the pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, tobacco and food industries, in addition to folding carton converters.
The first units of the new press are expected to be installed at customer sites in Europe and America in the second half of 2022.
Based on water-based inkjet processes, the new B1 5,500sph press is said to combine the strengths of digital inkjet and classic offset printing with inline finishing.
The new digital press is developed using Koenig & Bauer’s Rapida 106 platform and Durst printhead electronics, inkjet expertise, as well as Durst workflow and RIP technology.
VariJET 106 press, which uses seven-colour water-based food compliant inkjet technology (CMYK plus orange, green and violet), can be used in food applications. It uses water-based ink technology to meet the rigorous requirements for food-safe primary packaging.
The press also holds capabilities to produce personalised and individualised print products or alternate between short and medium runs.
Other benefits offered by the VariJET 106 press consists of modular integration of upstream and downstream processes, precise register accuracy, minimized resource consumption, storage costs and waste, as well better flexibility for test packaging and new campaigns.
Koenig & Bauer Durst managing director Robert Stabler 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 customization and the need to be more agile are the compelling reasons for moving to digital production.”
VariJET 106 press has been showcased at a world premiere with exclusive live demonstrations for customers and stakeholders in Radebeul, near Dresden, Germany.
In 2019, Koenig & Bauer and Durst collaborated to launch an independent joint venture (JV) company. The VariJET 106 is the first product developed by the JV.
Koenig & Bauer Durst portfolio consists of Delta SPC 130 Series and the CorruJET 170 Series for corrugated packaging applications.