In the meantime the Koenig & Bauer Group (KBA) generates some 70% of its revenue of over €1bn in the packaging market. The press manufacturer is the market leader in several packaging segments: in folding carton printing with medium and large-format sheetfed presses from KBA-Sheetfed in Radebeul, in metal decorating with the printing, coating and drying systems from KBA-MetalPrint in Stuttgart, and in hollow glass container printing with the digital and screen printing presses from KBA-Kammann in Bad Oeynhausen.
The printing press group also entered the huge flexible packaging market with the acquisition of KBA-Flexotecnica in Italy at the end of 2013 with growing success. The close alliance with HP for the development and production of the world’s largest digital press, the HP T1100S PageWide Web Press, for the corrugated market is also indirectly attributable to the growing packaging market, although in this case KBA is only the contractor and HP markets the press itself.
Coding technology with potential from KBA-Metronic
A further key and expanding user field which is often overlooked in the media is analogue (thermal transfer, hot stamping) and digital marking and coding solutions (continuous inkjet, laser) from KBA-Metronic in Veitshöchheim. These systems are mainly integrated into packaging and other production lines, but also unlock potential for printing and packaging plants. KBA-Metronic will demonstrate this on the KBA stand at this year’s drupa. With the combination of the udaFORMAXX separating system and a CO² laser from the laserSYSTEM K series, the KBA subsidiary will present a solution for individually applying addresses to print products and the just-in-time marking of packaging.
During printing a laser-sensitive pigment layer can be applied to cardboard, paper, film etc. The laser beam then creates a high-contrast marking. The individual marking of the packaging with a laser can be done at any point in the production chain. Laser marking is reliable, fast, freely programmable and works without any consumables.
Given the variety of print solutions on offer, packaging producers will be a core target group for KBA in terms of the exhibits on show at this year’s drupa as well as the raft of upcoming analogue and digital innovations.
www.kba.com
