A new strategic agreement between Koenig & Bauer and Durst Phototechnik is set to combine the two companies’ strengths in the folding carton and corrugated markets. The first project will be the manufacturing of the VariJET press for digital folding carton printing, in time for drupa 2020.
The planned joint venture will based in Germany and – subject to merger control approval – will assume responsibility for the development, integration, manufacturing and worldwide distribution of water-based, single-pass digital printing. Ink and service business relating to the presses sold jointly through the global networks of the two parent companies is also to be handled by the joint venture.
‘We are looking forward to joint innovations and further developments in future-oriented digital printing technology for folding carton and corrugated board, and not least to the added value this will offer to our customers,’ said Claus Bolza-Schünemann, CEO of Koenig & Bauer AG.
‘Both companies are similar in their culture and strategic direction, and both are technology leaders in their fields,’ said Christoph Gamper, CEO of Durst Phototechnik AG. ‘By combining our know-how, we are in an ideal position to develop and offer fully automatic production lines and will thus also be able to contribute to digital transformation in the folding carton and corrugated industry.’
