This article first appeared in the December 2024 issue of ProPack.pro.
The launch of the Koenig & Bauer Durst Delta SPC 130 in Australia and New Zealand represents a new opportunity for corrugated packaging converters to take advantage of world-first ink technology.
Koenig & Bauer and Durst, both world leaders in the manufacture of industrial printing machinery, signed a joint venture in 2019 to tap into the potential of digital production in the packaging industry.
The Delta SPC 130 single-pass press has been created for corrugated converters looking to migrate and embrace the benefits of digital production or upgrade from their current digital system.
The game-changing digital water-based white ink used with the Delta SPC 130 is suitable for primary food packaging printing as it is food-safe, sustainable, and meets current and future regulatory as well as environmental standards, providing new application opportunities.
“Customers in Australia and New Zealand have been waiting for a product such as the Delta SPC 130 to deliver attractive, safe, and sustainable packaging,” Durst Oceania managing director Matt Ashman said.
“The Delta SPC 130 provides corrugated printers and converters with the latest digital printing technology that will play an ever-increasing role, complementing and optimising the operations for local printers and converters.
“Not only does the Delta SPC 130 deliver an innovative world first sustainable solution, it also delivers a highly profitable opportunity for our printers and converters.”
Available with the possibility for in-field upgrades to increase throughput or provide additional applications, it is compatible with media sizes from 1.3 metres by 2.8 metres.
The machine is ideal for converters with annual production volumes between 3 million and 5 million square metres annually, by printing at 60m/min on coated and 90m/min on uncoated boards.
“The Delta SPC 130 is based on the latest generation of single-pass printing systems that Durst is already using successfully in the ceramics and label-printing segments. This single-pass technology has been continuously developed since 2005. “Koenig & Bauer Durst has adapted and optimised this single-pass platform to the needs of the corrugated board industry,” Ashman said.
“The Delta SPC 130 combines a well-engineered mechanical design with easily accessible sub-assemblies and selected components to guarantee durable quality and high performance. It is a printing system that offers unrivalled versatility, low maintenance requirements and 24/7 reliability.
“The Delta SPC 130 is equipped with recirculating Durst Quadro Array printheads and water-based inks. It is equipped with Durst’s SPC drop-on-demand print head technology and has a non-hazardous ink system, and an IR/UV drying process designed for high productivity.
“These form the basis for the constant readiness for operation and reliability in industrial, multi-shift production environments. With our Flexline concept, we can offer the ideal solution based on the different customer needs.
“This technology is the future. It replaces such processes as litho-lam, where paper is printed on a litho press and then laminated onto corrugated. With this technology, the corrugated board can be printed directly, cutting out a process. The print quality also exceeds high quality litho.”
Early adopters of the Delta SPC 130
The Royal Group – one of the largest independent corrugated box and display manufacturers in the US – was one of the first companies to invest in a new Delta SPC 130 Automatic single-pass press from Koenig & Bauer Durst.
The six-colour Delta SPC 130 Automatic press – which is also available in Australia – was installed at The Royal Group’s Mid-Atlantic packaging site near Philadelphia in 2022, giving customers the flexibility
to print unique versions of high-quality graphics for brands and brand extensions, allowing for mass customisation at a large scale.
The Royal Group specialises in industrial packaging, brown box shipping containers, plus high-end packaging, e-commerce, in-store displays and shelf-ready packaging. It serves a diverse range of customers including retail, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, health and beauty, agriculture, tech, and home goods.
“As both a producer and a converter of corrugated packaging, The Royal Group has made significant investments to acquire the best machinery available in the industry,” the company’s former CEO Bob McIlvaine said at the time of purchasing the machine.
“The investment in the Delta SPC 130 for our Mid-Atlantic site underpins our commitment to process improvement. It enables us to provide highly automated, world-class printing capabilities at
speed, while remaining as flexible as possible for our clients as we continue to grow our business.
“Digital packaging is the future – and we aim to satisfy our customers and meet their needs with innovative solutions.”
A more recent adopter of the Delta SPC 130 is Atlantic Packaging. The company was seeking a press that was durable and could run production speeds on corrugated.
As a vertically integrated corrugated company servicing the northeastern part of North America, Atlantic Packaging installed its first Koenig & Bauer Durst Delta SPC 130s using water-based inks at its Canadian factory earlier this year.
“Our journey in single pass digital corrugated started in 2018. At the time, our customers were asking us where they needed a smaller run size, flexibility, high quality graphics and speed to market as well as being sustainably focused,” Atlantic Packaging digital print manager Anthony Memme said.
“We chose the Koenig & Bauer Durst Delta SPC 130s as it was litho like, with the highest quality that we could achieve. We also felt there were synergies between Atlantic and Koenig & Bauer Durst. We
are both family owned. Important, too, was the professionalism that we were presented with throughout the organisation, through the process, especially at the initial phases of our partnership, when we were looking and evaluating the different options for digital.
“Now brands are taking an interest in digital production – we see that especially in the Canadian market, and the flexibility that it gives them. The ability to print with the Koenig & Bauer Durst white ink allows them to achieve really good quality on uncoated and kraft substrates.
“Koenig & Bauer Durst’s digital white ink is revolutionary for us and our markets, especially with it being a water-based ink.
“We do a lot of food, food contact, food ready packaging, such as pizza and produce boxes. Being able to put down a white and get high-definition full colour graphics on a kraft substrate is going to
be transformative in our industry.
“Up until now I have not seen any print method print this quality and vibrancy of colour on uncoated and kraft materials.”
Memme said the machine also improves the sustainability of a product, the look of it, and gives Atlantic Packaging the ability to react and pivot to market conditions.
“Sustainability is important to us as a company and our customers look to us to provide them with a sustainable product, with quality and speed to market as well,” he added.
The Delta SPC 130 – demonstrated at drupa 2024
The Delta SPC 130 was demonstrated on the Koenig & Bauer Durst stand at drupa in Düsseldorf earlier this year.
According to Koenig & Bauer Durst managing director Daniel Velema, a large number of visitors at drupa were offered a closer look at the SPC Control Console and learned how the Delta SPC 130 is integrated into the production environment in conjunction with Durst workflow and analytics functionality.
“Among the digital single-pass presses supplied by Koenig & Bauer Durst, the Delta SPC 130 is already well proven on the corrugated board market with several installations in major corrugated customers globally,” Velema said.
“As a world-leading supplier of digital sheetfed presses, single-pass printing systems and software services for the folding carton and corrugated markets – and with two giants of the packaging and printing industry as partners – we see enormous potential for significant growth in the coming years, enabling us to support and accelerate the digital journey of our customers.”
Key features of the Delta SPC 130
Food packaging certified
When paired with the Koenig & Bauer Durst Ink Set and suitable corrugated cardboard or cardboard material, the Delta SPC 130 is fully approved for all major certifications for the production of both primary and secondary food packaging.
Water technology
Koenig & Bauer Durst Water Technology inks allow high-quality, odour-free and non-fading end products to be produced in a single process, eliminating pre-treatment, interim drying and overprint varnish.
Configuration
The Delta SPC 130 can be configured with up to six colours, printing any length of corrugated cardboard or paper media of up to 12mm in thickness. The printing system offers unrivalled versatility, low maintenance requirements and 24/7 dependability.
Resolution
The standard resolution for most of the production is 800 dpi. For printing of fine details and small text the Delta SPC 130 offers 1000 dpi as highest resolution. For very high productivity a 600 dpi mode is available too.
Media sizes
The Delta SPC 130 can print on a maximum sheet thickness of 12mm with a maximum sheet size of 1300mm by 2800mm.
Production volumes
This product is ideal for converters with annual production volumes between 3 million and 5 million square metres annually by printing at 60m/min on coated and 90m/min on uncoated boards.
Specifications of the Delta SPC 130
Media Type – Corrugated board
Min. sheet size – 600mm by 600mm
Max sheet size – 1300mm by 2800mm
Min. sheet thickness – 1mm (F-flute)
Max. sheet thickness – 12mm
Max. stack height – 2000mm
Max print resolution – 1000 dpi
Printing speed (high quality) – up to 90m/min
Printing speed (high productivity) – up to 120m/min
Length – 38m to 44m
Ink type – Aqueous/water
