Amidst its transition from a traditional machine manufacturer to an agile technology provider, Koenig & Bauer is taking a leap towards becoming a leading digital solutions player in the printing and packaging arena. On 1 April 2025, the Digital Unit, previously operating under the Group’s umbrella, will be spun off from the holding company. The result will be a wholly-owned subsidiary, Koenig & Bauer Kyana GmbH, that will be part of the Special & New Technologies segment. Sandra Wagner, previously VP of Digitalization at Koenig & Bauer, has been appointed managing director of Koenig & Bauer Kyana.
Koenig & Bauer Kyana will continue to concentrate on the development of digital business models as well as AI and data-driven solutions throughout the entire life cycle of print products. “We are convinced that this strategic spin-off, combined with the concentration and consolidation of our outstanding expertise in the field of digitalization, will make a significant contribution to the long-term success of our company,” stated Dr Andreas Pleßke, CEO of Koenig & Bauer. The spin-off enables the company to meet customer needs in a more targeted manner and to optimally exploit the growth potential in this dynamic market segment.
Customer centricity as the core of the strategy
Based on global megatrends, the Digital Unit was launched in 2022 as part of the consistent implementation of the Group strategy, ‘Exceeding Print.’ With the spin-off of the software innovation hub as an independent business unit, Koenig & Bauer is underscoring its commitment to providing optimal customer support in the digital age. “Our customers are at the heart of everything we do,” emphasizes Sandra Wagner, managing director of Koenig & Bauer Kyana GmbH. “With Koenig & Bauer Kyana, we are creating the necessary organizational structure of an agile software company, which enables us to respond even faster and more comprehensively to the needs of our customers.”
Photo Koenig & Bauer
The transformation into an independent software company enables the targeted development and expansion of specialized areas such as digital sales, a dedicated onboarding and support team, and sustained customer care through customer success management. K&B says it is thus strengthening its commitment to support customers at every stage of their digitalization journey with professional expertise.
Proven expertise in the field of digitalization
In addition to developing a comprehensive digitalization strategy for the company and working with the IT department to build a solid IT and cloud infrastructure, K&B has forged strong technology partnerships with experienced technology companies. The Digital Unit has successfully launched digital products used by customers to optimize their own production processes. The digital product portfolio already includes the following established solutions:
- myKyana: The central portal for the digital product world
- Kyana Assist: The AI-powered chatbot for fast assistance and problem solving
- Kyana Data: The intelligent production data analysis tool
- VisuEnergy X: The energy management system optimized specifically for the print and packaging industry
Connected packaging and the expansion of AI-based applications
In addition to the products of the Kyana ecosystem, which are specifically tailored to the needs of traditional machine users, the digital product portfolio is being expanded by the Connected Packaging solution presented at drupa 2024. It bridges the gap between analog packaging and the digital world and offers brand owners completely new ways to interact with their customers. As artificial intelligence, data and cloud continue to be important drivers across industries, K&B is continuously investing in the development of innovative business models and products. The existing digital product portfolio of K&Ba Kyana is being expanded with further pioneering AI and data-driven applications.
The strategic significance for K&B
The spin-off is the next logical step in the consistent implementation of Koenig & Bauer‘s digital strategy. “Digitalization is a central driver for innovation and progress in our industry,” explains Christian Steinmaßl, who as a member of the Group Management is responsible for various business units in the newly created special and new technologies segment. “With Koenig & Bauer Kyana, we are in a position to bundle expertise in the field of digitalization in a more targeted manner. Growth in this promising market segment will be further driven forward while maintaining close links with the Group strategy.” K&B Kyana will continue to work closely with the group’s other business units to leverage synergies and offer customers a holistic solution.
Note this article has been slightly edited for style on 6 April 2025 at 1344 hours.
