KBA‑Sheetfed Solutions and Xerox have announced a partnership to develop a new industrial press for the folding carton market. The first-of-its-kind sheetfed digital press integrates KBA’s Rapida Platform and Xerox Inkjet Technology. Wide-format cartons (for items like cosmetics, food and pharmaceutical products) until now have relied on traditional analogue offset production printing, said the OEM’s.
The new KBA VariJET 106 powered by Xerox integrates Xerox Impika inkjet technology into the KBA Rapida 106 Press platform. The press, in the final stages of development, will print 4,500 B1 750 x 1060 millimeters (29.5” x 41.7”) sheets per hour. Its modular concept enables the combination of digital inkjet printing with optional inline capabilities – such as coating, cold foil, rotary die cutting, creasing and perforating.
According to KBA and Xerox, digitally printed packaging worldwide will expand at a compound annual growth rate of about 16% between 2015 and 2020. Within that, digitally printed folding cartons will see a 40% increase. The KBA VariJET 106 Press will bring 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, they added.
“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.”
The KBA VariJET 106 will be available to customers beginning in 2017. KBA and Xerox will share additional details on the new press during presentations at their respective booths at drupa in Düsseldorf, Germany, May 31 to June 10.
KBA and Xerox partner to create KBA VariJET 106 Press for folding cartons
