New first-of-its-kind modular hybrid press designed for folding carton printers integrates KBA Rapida platform and Xerox inkjet technology

KBA Sheetfed Solutions, a business unit of the Koenig & Bauer Group (KBA), and Xerox have announced a partnership to develop an industrial digital sheetfed press for the folding carton market. 

The KBA VariJET® 106 Powered by Xerox integrates Xerox Impika® inkjet technology into the KBA Rapida® 106 press platform. The modular KBA VariJET will permit the combination of conventional printing and finishing technologies with digital inkjet printing in a hybrid press. It can be configured with up to seven inkjet colors and it offers print speeds of up to 4,500 sph in 29.5 x 41.7 inches at 1,400 dpi per hour. Its modular concept enables the combination of digital inkjet printing with optional in-line capabilities such as printing units, coating, cold foil application, rotary die-cutting, creasing and perforating. 

Digitally printed packaging worldwide will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of roughly 16 percent between 2015 and 2020. Within that, digitally printed folding cartons will see a CAGR of 40 percent1. The KBA VariJET 106 Press brings the benefits of digital printing such as running multiple versions of the same carton as well as customized cartons, opening up new business opportunities for industrial production printers. Wide format cartons, for items like cosmetics, food and pharmaceutical products, until now has relied on traditional analog offset production printing.

“As a leader in package printing our customers are confirming that this is exactly the product they need for the market opportunity that exists,” said Ralf Sammeck, CEO of KBA-Sheetfed Solutions. “Xerox’s inkjet technology coupled with our packaging expertise combines proven technologies to bring the right product to market at the right time.”

“By combining digital capabilities like cross media marketing, digital storefronts, and automated workflows with those of classic offset printing, our customers will be able to offer new products not seen in the traditional packaging market to their customers,” said Robert Stabler, general manager, Graphic Communications Business Group, Xerox. “The KBA VariJET 106 Powered by Xerox will have the flexibility, format and speed to help print providers capture this growing market opportunity.”

KBA will be participating at Graph Expo 2016 in Orlando from September 25-28, 2016 at Booth 1435 and at the Digital Packaging Summit 2016 that will take place October 31 - November 2, 2016 at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.