Above: A toast between Marco Calcagni (OMET sales and marketing director) and Thomas Macina (Durst sales director for labels and flexible packaging)

Durst and OMET, who have been in a partnership since eight years ago and strengthened their partnership in 2023, have announced their collaboration has seen the sale of more than 20 machines in 2024.

The jewel in the crown of the Durst and OMET partnership is the KJet, a new digital and flexo hybrid machine tailored for the label and flexible packaging market. It is the second joint development by the companies after the XJet.

The KJet combines the ‘cylinder-base dual-servo’ flexo technology from OMET with the robustness and reliability of Durst’s RSCi Digital printing engine. It also offers operators a seamless experience with its user-friendly interface and ultra-short web path. This design minimises waste and reduces setup times, showcasing the advantages of digital printing.

In response to the announcement of the 20 machines sold, Durst Oceania managing director Matt Ashman said, “It is great to see the strengthening of the collaboration between two giants of the label printing industry.

“As the saying goes, we can achieve great things by sitting on the shoulders of giants. This partnership leverages the strengths of both businesses to bring much-needed innovation to the label converters in the Oceania region.”

OMET said, “When innovation and mutual trust meet, great projects come into being. As a result of a long-lasting collaboration between OMET and Durst, 2024 saw the sale of over 20 hybrid machines – a true game-changer in the printing market.

“[It’s] an incredible result, which celebrates not only our technology, but also a shared vision of two cutting-edge realities.”