German press manufacturer KBA and American digital print giant Xerox have entered a partnership to develop an industrial digital sheetfed press for the folding carton market.

The VariJET 106 Powered by Xerox will combine Xerox Impika inkjet technology with KBA’s Rapida 106 press platform, which will deliver inkjet printing with optional extras such as coating, cold foil application, rotary die-cutting, creasing and perforating.

KBA has recently expressed interest in growing its printed packaging business, a market which is expected to surge at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16 per cent between 2015 and 2020.

CEO of KBA Sheetfed Ralf Sammeck says, “As a leader in packaging printing our customers are confirming that this is exactly the product they need for the market opportunity that exists.

“Xerox’s inkjet technology coupled with our packaging expertise combines proven technologies to bring the right product to market at the right time.”

The VariJET 106 Powered by Xerox is expected to print on wide format cartons, typically used for cosmetics, food and pharmaceutical products which used to rely on traditional analogue offset production printing.

General manager of Xerox graphic communications Robert Stabler says, “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 and opportunities for their customers not seen in the traditional packaging market.”

KBA and Xerox will share more information on the VariJET 106 Powered by Xerox at drupa and the printer will be available for purchase in 2017.

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