Koenig & Bauer (K&B) has announced a strategic partnership with INX International as its globally preferred technology partner for UV, HR-UV, and LED-UV inks. Today, printing companies are under enormous pressure to produce smaller print runs profitably while simultaneously meeting increasingly strict environmental regulations. The partnership aims to address these market demands directly at the printing press.
Engineering a stronger bottom line
Rather than treating presses and consumables as separate entities, both companies are synchronizing their core technological competencies. Their shared objective is a print environment that delivers maximum efficiency from the very first sheet. Intensive testing across all Rapida sheetfed offset presses confirms that ink systems such as INXCure LW and INXCure UVXcel noticeably cut makeready times and deliver exceptional color consistency. This drastically reduces material waste during job changeovers and drives up the net production time of the equipment.
“Our customers do not need isolated products; they need a seamless ecosystem stretching from the pressroom to the finished packaging,” explains Dirk Winkler, head of process and printing technology and product management at K&B Sheetfed. “INX’s leading role in energy-curable inks gives printers precisely the flexibility and innovative strength required to turn current industry challenges into a genuine competitive advantage.”
Sustainability as a tangible production advantage
A central pillar of the alliance is the mutual focus on ecological and health standards. The LED-UV solutions deployed significantly lower energy consumption during production, thereby improving the carbon footprint of print service providers. At the same time, both partners are pushing forward future standards in ‘Healthy Printing’ and Cradle-to-Cradle certifications, offering brand owners even safer and better access to sustainable packaging solutions.
Global expertise at pressroom
Beyond perfectly matched technologies, customers benefit from a joint, highly practical support concept. Koenig & Bauer and INX are already successfully pooling their expertise within K&B’s global demo and training centers. Here, converters and brand owners can test the performance and sustainability of the systems under real-world production conditions. Regular open-house events, joint appearances at trade fairs, and targeted workshops ensure a continuous transfer of knowledge directly into customers’ operations.
