ChanGe | ChanCe

We are taking off: „Exceeding Print“ in the go-to-market 

Over the past three years Koenig & Bauer has achieved a great deal with its corporate strategy „Exceeding Print“. In the areas of sustainability, digitalisation and modularity we have positioned ourselves solidly for the future. With the launch of our new presses and digital solutions at drupa, we have underpinned these successes. Now we must successfully establish these innovations in the marketplace and further intensify our sales activities.
We are now in the go-to-market phase. 

In our Annual Report (Module 2), you can read more about the consistent implementation of our strategy and the progress we have made. A detailed insight into our goals and strategies can be found on pages 26ff. You can find out how we are exploiting the markets and growth opportunities we address on pages 29ff. You can read more about our partnerships and collaborations.

Exceeding Print – the three pillars of the strategy

What we have achieved so far and can now achieve with a consistent go-to-market approach on the market:

… for more sustainability

Sustainability is one of the greatest challenges and opportunities of our time. At drupa we awarded our Green Dot Award for the second time. With this award we honour leading personalities who have made innovative contributions to sustainable printing with outstanding ideas and great commitment. The many examples of best practice clearly show that sustainability and cost-effectiveness are not mutually exclusive. Systems that use less waste, energy and ink are not only more environmentally friendly but also more cost-effective. We offer a range of solutions to help our customers improve their sustainability.

One example is ‚VisuEnergy X‘, an energy management system in the myKyana ecosystem that enables customers to monitor their energy consumption in real time, identify potential savings and improve the sustainability of their production processes. Another example is Koenig & Bauer MetalPrint‘s HighEcon and EcoTNV systems, which reduce gas consumption by up to 70% compared to older installations. CO2 emissions can be further reduced by using green hydrogen. 

We believe that sustainability will have a significant impact on the future of the printing industry. With our innovative solutions we help our customers to produce in a resource-efficient way, to improve their environmental footprint and to remain economically successful and competitive.

… for more digitalisation

The digital transformation of the printing industry is well underway, and Koenig & Bauer is playing an active part in shaping it. At drupa we showcased our latest digital innovations that enhance the efficiency, productivity and sustainability of printing processes.
One highlight was the introduction of Kyana, our digital intelligence, who acted as a virtual co-host during the live shows, introducing herself to the audience. The myKyana portal, the heart of our digital product world, demonstrated how digital is transforming the printing industry. Particularly eye-catching was Kyana Assist, the printing industry‘s first AI chatbot, which offers our customers direct support and quick answers to their questions. Individual live demonstrations allowed visitors to see for themselves the benefits of the comprehensive myKyana ecosystem. The many discussions with customers confirmed that digital productivity tools are becoming an important factor in the decision to invest in printing and finishing equipment. Three other innovations we launched at drupa were ValiPACK, FOLLOW and PrintFusion.

ValiPACK protects against counterfeiting with micro-structures, special colours and digital watermarks that are visible via a smartphone app. The solution provides fast, offline-enabled authentication without changing the product – sustainably and effectively.

FOLLOW turns packaging into an interactive communication channel. Augmented reality and gamification create a unique customer experience. FOLLOW also displays information on ingredients, recycling and origin, and complies with future regulations such as the Digital Product Passport.

PrintFusion, the control system for Rapida presses developed jointly with Hybrid Software, reinforces our leadership in innovation for the entire packaging workflow. At drupa, our sheetfed division showcased groundbreaking technologies for the entire production chain, from prepress to printing, die-cutting and folding carton gluing. All the presses on show, including the Rapida 106 X, VariJET 106, CutPRO X 106 rotary die-cutter, CutPRO Q 106 SB flatbed die-cutter and Omega Alius 90 folder gluer, demonstrate the latest technological developments.

We believe that digitalisation will have a major impact on the future of the printing industry. With our innovative solutions, we help our customers make the most of the opportunities digitalisation offers and strengthen their competitiveness.

… for more modularity

Increasing individualisation and complexity in the printing industry require a new balance between standardisation and flexibility. We are meeting this challenge with a consistent modularisation strategy. The aim is to enable faster innovation cycles, more efficient production processes and greater adaptability through modular press platforms. We showcased our progress in this area at drupa,

TechDay 2024, which focused on knowledge transfer and the joint development of innovative solutions for the printing industry.

A highlight was the presentation of the Digital Twin pilot project in collaboration with Siemens. Using the sheet feeder of a Rapida 106 as an example, we demonstrated how a standardised and modular automation platform can speed up the development and commissioning of presses and improve service and after-sales support. This platform will enable us to respond to global megatrends and take the Group into a new era.
The cooperation with Siemens is also very important for the development of digital solutions. The new technology makes it possible to collect and analyse even more detailed machine and condition data, which forms the basis for innovative applications in the areas of predictive maintenance, performance optimisation and virtual product configuration.

In addition, the modularisation strategy is supported by Group Sales to optimise synergies and cross-selling. Key Account Management acts as a trusted advisor, while Brand Ownership Management strengthens the dialogue with international manufacturers and packaging suppliers on new printing and packaging technologies.

We believe that modularity is the key to greater flexibility, efficiency and customer satisfaction. Our modular solutions enable our customers to customise their production processes and tailor them to their needs.