At K 2016, the world's no. 1 trade fair for the plastics, rubber and packaging industry, which is to be held in Düsseldorf from 19th to 26th October, the Koenig & Bauer subsidiaries KBA-Kammann GmbH from Bad Oeynhausen/Germany and KBA-Flexotecnica S.p.A. from Tavazzano/Italy will be showcasing their broad portfolio of print and finishing solutions for flexible packaging and hollow containers. Both companies have been regular exhibitors at this premier international plastics fair for many years, but this will be the first time that they have shared a joint stand (Hall 4, B11+B13).

KBA-Kammann: Innovations for the direct decoration of hollow containers

As a leading manufacturer of screen printing, hot stamping and digital press systems for the direct decoration of luxury hollow containers made from glass, plastic or metal, KBA-Kammann GmbH has always viewed the plastics market as an important field of business. This year's fair has thus been chosen as a fitting occasion at which to unveil the new K20 family. The successor to the highly successful K1 product series sets new standards in terms of flexibility, speed, quality and ease of operation in direct decoration. The K15 CNC series is another example for the outstanding potential of the machinery supplied by KBA-Kammann. High-performance infeed and delivery robots, modern camera systems for flexible and precise register control irrespective of the product shape, screen printing on tapered articles, hot stamping in stroke or roll-on mode, printing/marking of the article base and contact-free digital printing on glass, plastic and metal containers – the K15 CNC leaves practically no wish unanswered. The diverse capabilities of the systems on show in Düsseldorf will be demonstrated by way of print simulations.

Direct decoration based on screen printing is very cost-intensive and has faced increasing competition from other emerging decoration technologies such as flexo, offset or labelling in recent years. Building upon a traditionally strong market position in screen printing, KBA-Kammann thus plans to expand its interests to embrace also digital technologies and hybrid applications. Given the possibilities of digital print with regard to individualisation, personalisation, ultra-short runs, etc., the company sees good prospects in markets which are currently dominated by other processes.

KBA-Flexotecnica: Printing, coating and laminating

KBA-Flexotecnica S.p.A. has been a familiar name to K visitors since the late 1990s with its CI flexo presses for flexible packaging. In June 2016, the new flexo web press NEO XD convinced the international trade public at drupa with high-quality print using water-based inks on food packaging films. Just four months on, K 2016 will be experiencing yet another premiere with the laminating machine EVOLAM. This new machine permits the efficient use of solvent-free adhesives and scores with high performance, low consumption and convincing cost-effectiveness. Key factors contributing to a fast return on investment are a newly developed technology for the homogeneous application of minimal amounts of adhesive over the whole material surface, as well as the optimised web tension control.

For the next development stage, it is planned to enable the simultaneous application of different adhesives or coatings with the EVOLAM – traditionally using solvent- or water-based adhesives, and in the near future with new solutions on the basis of EB and UV coatings and laminations. Specialists from KBA-Flexotecnica will be on hand to answer all arising questions and inquiries.