Durst and Koenig & Bauer detail new digital venture

Rob Fletcher speaks to Christoph Gamper, Chief Executive at Durst Group and Claus Bolza-Schünemann, Chief Executive at Koenig & Bauer AG about this new partnership.

Durst has entered a joint venture with Koenig & Bauer for the joint development and marketing of single-pass digital printing systems, with a focus on bringing to market new kit for the folding carton and cartonboard corrugated industry.

Digital printing and production specialist Durst and printing press manufacturer Koenig & Bauer will operate the new partner company as a 50-50 venture, with the business to be based on Germany.

The two companies anticipate that, eventually, the joint venture will allow for the development and worldwide distribution of fully automated production lines. The new partner company will also manage the service and ink business in close cooperation with the global network of both companies.

Durst and Koenig & Bauer said the changing requirements in the packaging industry can no longer be met with conventional production technologies and new development is required in order to meet this demand.

The two companies noted how this differs to the main graphics industry, where an inkjet press alone can take on much of the work. For the packaging sector, they say there is a clear need to integrate different peripheral systems into a fully automatic production line.

Christoph Gamper, chief executive of Durst Group, said the two companies are the “perfect match” for such a venture and will be able to draw on each other’s expertise to deliver new solutions to market.

In a statement issued to FESPA.com, Gamper said: “Both companies are similar in their culture and strategic direction, and both are technology leaders in their fields.

“With the partnership, we are even more strongly positioning ourselves as a high-end systems supplier to the industry.”

Claus Bolza-Schünemann, chief executive of Koenig & Bauer AG, also spoke about the value of working with a high-profile partner company and said that Durst will help the manufacturer achieve its own business goals.

Bolza-Schünemann said in a statement issued to FESPA.com: “We look forward to the joint innovations and further development of future-oriented digital printing solutions for folding carton and corrugated board printing, which offer our customers added value.”

Bolza-Schünemann focused in particular on developing the modular concept of the VariJET, which he said enables the combination of digital inkjet printing with offset printing and inline finishing options for companies working in the folding carton printing sector.

In terms of how Durst will support this development, Bolza-Schünemann added: “Durst is the ideal partner for these goals because of its existing know-how and experience with inkjet and its high-quality solutions.”