This article first appeared in the February 2025 issue of ProPack.pro, authored by Durst Oceania’s Matt Ashman

Durst is currently present across a broad cross section of the digital packaging market from labels to flexibles to folding carton and corrugated. In 2024, Durst Oceania continued to grow its install base of labels and packaging machines in Australia and New Zealand.

Converters have chosen Durst because they are forward-thinking, young, modern, and entrepreneurial businesses and they see us as the perfect partner for the future of their fast-growing business. We have found traditional converters remain apprehensive and challenged when it comes to embracing new digital inkjet technology, and this lack of agility represents a potential risk for their businesses.

My advice is for the industry to take the leap and observe the decisions made by your competitors in Australia and overseas who are reaping the rewards that digital inkjet production delivers.

I believe 2025 will be defined as the year when mainstream packaging businesses decide if they will choose to embrace new digital inkjet technology coming to market.

When Durst co-owner and CEO Christoph Gamper spoke at the ProPack Packaging Forum in Sydney last year, he made a very important statement that reinforces this point – digital printing is no longer wearing its baby shoes.

This is now the time for packaging converters to educate themselves and no longer treat digital as just an add-on in their business, or as a smaller part of their business. Digital inkjet is the future of packaging.

Locally we are seeing strong, profitable, and viable businesses that have digital inkjet printing in both labels, flexibles, and folding carton packaging – this is a massive sea change for the industry.

The cost of print and the cost of ownership has now hit a sweet spot as the demands of customers have changed and so too have the run lengths, which is ideal for digital inkjet production.

My advice is, don’t miss the boat and the competitive advantage that comes with embracing new technology. As your clients find out they can order packaging in a different way, this will progressively become a game-changer.

Traditional large packaging converters have always demanded high volumes as that was previously the most efficient way – normally one design with an incredibly high run and then brands would order from that volume.

However, now with digital technology, customers can print the precise amount on almost a weekly basis. Also, you must bear in mind that this type of digital production has no run-up, which means there is less time in setting up the machine – making it far more efficient to run.

In terms of sustainability, with digital inkjet production there is zero wastage. This is becoming increasingly important for external customers. More and more major brands want to know what converters have in place in terms of their sustainability plan when it comes to printing.

New laws coming into effect across the European Union will see the introduction of a sustainability audit for every business. At Durst, we have been conducting this audit for the last two years and it is only a matter of time before Australian businesses will be expected to present the same annual documentation and reporting.

Regardless of this, sustainability credentials will be increasingly demanded from end customers, therefore converters will need to have a solution that ticks this box.

Converters will be better off dictating the future rather than following how the industry has operated in the past.

Progressive customers are not looking to work with converters or with machinery that is 20 or 30 years old and in this current business environment, replacing like for like with a new machine is no longer a smart option. Don’t work harder, work smarter.

Durst offers products in its labels and flexibles portfolio – from the Tau RSC-E to the Tau RSCi, measuring up to 510mm in width and delivering prints of up to 80m/min at 1200 dpi.

The Durst Omet K-Jet hybrid option offers the same speed and width with flexographic integration.

The Durst folding carton and corrugated portfolio starts with the P5 Pack through to the SPC130 high speed corrugated printer, producing up to 100m/min.

And at the top end, we offer the Koenig & Bauer Durst VariJet 106 folding carton machine with amazing speed and water based technology that complies with all global food standards for printing.

Durst is truly a one-stop shop – not only do we have the hardware, but we also have the software to manage a fast-paced packaging operation – with Lift ERP and Workflow solutions through to the B2B Smart Shop software.

Later this year at Labelexpo Europe in Barcelona, we will showcase our advanced hardware and software in the labels category, which will be complemented by several global open house events held at Durst’s head office in Brixen as well as in conjunction with our customers globally.

There will also be specific open house events for folding carton and corrugated customers showcasing the businesses that have taken the step to embrace digital inkjet production with Durst technology.