Koenig & Bauer Durst has unveiled the VariJET 106 in a world premiere in Radebeul, Germany, showcasing the modular single pass sheetfed digital printing press for the folding carton market.
The press, jointly developed by Koenig & Bauer and Durst, was revealed with exclusive live demonstrations for customers and stakeholders.
Beta testing for the machine is due to start in the coming weeks, with the first units of the VariJET 106 due to be installed at customer sites in Europe and America in the second half of 2022. Target groups include pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, tobacco and food industries, as well as folding carton converters.
The VariJET 106 is a B1 5,500s/ph press that combines digital inkjet and classic offset printing. It is based on water-based inkjet processes to provide print quality. The VariJET 106 platform is based on Koenig & Bauer’s high performance Rapida 106 platform and Durst printhead electronics, inkjet expertise and Durst workflow and RIP technology. This includes Durst Analytics, Smartshop and Workflow.
Using seven-colour water-based food compliant inkjet technology (CMYK plus orange, green and violet), the VariJET 106 is suitable for food applications that meet the stringent requirements for food safe primary packaging utilising proprietary water-based ink technology.
The VariJET 106 can also produce personalised and individualised print products or alternate between short and medium runs.
Durst Oceania managing director Matt Ashman told Sprinter that, “It’s such a great day for [Koenig & Bauer Durst managing director] Robert Stabler and his team to be able to share the fruits of the joint venture between two great companies, Durst and Koenig & Bauer.
“The combination of the Durst Water Ink Jet Technology and the Koenig and Bauer technology to realise real options and real solutions for high-speed packaging production. With its use of the already successful DELTA print platform from Durst with food safe ink jet technology, it will empower business to embrace all volumes and markets for packaging.”
Koenig & Bauer and Durst first announced that they had joined forces and set up an independent joint venture company in 2019.
The VariJET 106 is the first product jointly and developed by the two companies. Already in production and part of the Koenig & Bauer Durst portfolio are the Delta SPC 130 Series and the CorruJET 170 Series – aimed at corrugated packaging.
The VariJET 106, Delta SPC 130 and CorruJET 170 are designed with core technologies to provide automated, productive, food safe printing systems. They deliver shorter response times, more variants, shorter run lengths, individualisation and enable more and more small value orders.
They also answer the increasing customer demand for brand security, sustainability and the ability to meet brand owners’ requirements for multichannel communication including e-commerce.
Stabler said, “This world premiere marks a proud moment. 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 and will be working with us in partnership.
“Feedback from our customers is that shorter run lengths, mass customisation and the need to be more agile are the compelling reasons for moving to digital production.
“Successful companies need to be able to embrace the trends that are occurring and offer solutions. Brand owners continually want their products to stand out, require shorter lead times, while at the same time eliminate waste and conform to sustainability and track-and-trace requirements.
“Brand owners are also looking to ensure the new production methods are reliable, compliant and cost effective while converters need to have the capabilities and competencies to mass customise without any compromise on quality. We deliver on this.”
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