Durst Group CEO and co-owner Christoph Gamper, who was speaking at the recent inaugural ProPack Packaging Forum in Sydney, said digital is no longer wearing its ‘baby shoes’ and will not replace offset.
“Digital will not substitute offset; it depends on the application and nothing is all digital on a label press. The discussion around offset versus digital is no longer applicable anymore – you just have to do what makes sense for your business,” he said.
“We have been working within the digital space for more than 25 years across different industries and for packaging, with the new machines shown at drupa 2024, we have seen that digital is the primary technology.
“It’s reliable, it’s 24/7, and it’s highly versatile. We see ourselves as an enabler in digital and have partnered with companies such as Koenig & Bauer to support this space.”
Gamper delved into Durst’s joint venture with Koenig & Bauer, and the launch of their latest VariJET 106 single pass press at the recent drupa 2024 tradeshow. The VariJET 106 is a fully digital machine that targets the folding carton and corrugated markets.
He also pointed out the new Delta SPC 130 used in corrugated markets – another family member in Koenig & Bauer Durst’s single pass digital sheet-fed press portfolio.
The Delta SPC 130 is a corrugated printer using water-based inks, resulting in converters being able to deliver on sustainability and meeting food safe standards. In addition, as the Delta SPC 130 is digital, makeready times are eliminated and wastage is zero.
Gamper said Koenig & Bauer Durst is the first company in the world to offer digital white ink for corrugated substrates in primary food packaging. This creates new possibilities in packaging, for example printing on plain brown or lower grade white boards.
Watch the video of Durst Oceania’s Matt Ashman discussing the Delta SPC 130 in the video below:
The inaugural ProPack Packaging Forum would not be possible without the support from its sponsors:
Platinum Sponsor – Durst Oceania
Gold Sponsor – Cyber
Gold Sponsor – Miraclon
Bronze Sponsor – Hybrid Software
Bronze Sponsor – Kissel & Wolf
Bronze Sponsor – Koenig & Bauer
