Product of the Month: VariJet 106 from Koenig & Bauer Durst

What does the machine do?
The VariJet 106 is a modular digital sheetfed press for the folding carton industry. Using seven colour water-based food compliant inkjet technology (CMYK plus orange, green and violet), the VariJet106 is suitable for primary food applications.

Which are the different models?
The VariJet 106 is the only model at present.

Is there anything in the machine which is available as a standalone, if the machine is modular?
The VariJet 106 comprises feeder, primer, inkjet print engine with high precision transport belt, dryer, conditioning unit, overprint varnishes (OPV) and delivery (also including another dryer). It can produce personalised and individualised print products or alternate between ultra-short and medium runs. Special features include modular integration of upstream and downstream processes, as well as perfect register accuracy thanks to inline production.

When was the machine launched?
The VariJet 106 had its world premiere in front of 50 customers and other VIP guests at Radebeul, Germany in October 2021.

What was the thought process when the machine was conceived?
Folding carton markets are ripe for digital transformation as run length declines and greater requirements for highly productive, automated systems with a good TCO. Brands that have been demanding good, cost-effective, short-run and versioning solutions are also driving change.

What are the target markets?
Target groups include pharmaceutical, cosmetics, tobacco and food industries, as well as folding carton converters.

What kind of substrates can it handle?
The machine is designed to run standard folding carton substrates (uncoated and coated material) thickness size ranges from 0.2 to 0.8-mm. The standard configuration of the VariJet 106 with inline primer and overprint varnishes (OPVs) is 28-m long, 4.1-m high and 5.9-m wide.

How fast is it?
Running at B1 size at the speed of 5,500-sph (70-m/min), the VariJet 106 combines digital inkjet and offset printing technology, as well as inline finishing.

What is the USP of the machine?
The VariJet 106 has been built on market proven technology from Durst and Koenig & Bauer. It combines digital inkjet and offset printing technology, as well as inline finishing. This unique flexibility defines the VariJet 106 as a productive and cost-efficient printing system for digital packaging printing targeting the folding carton market.

The VariJet 106 combines Koenig & Bauer’s Rapida 106 technology with Durst printhead electronics, inkjet know-how, Durst workflow and RIP technology. This includes optional Durst Analytics, Smartshop and Workflow solutions.

How easy is it to use?
This is a fully automated machine and has ease of use for operators.

What training and support are on offer?
Koenig & Bauer Durst provides a full training package for customers on the press, workflow systems, sales training and also support to ramp the press up to full efficiency.

How much does it cost?
The target price is in the sub 4-million euros range but that is subject to current cost inflation pressures around raw materials and shipping.

How many do you expect to install in 2021-2022?
Beta testing will start in the coming weeks. The first units of the VariJet 106 are due to be installed at customer sites in Europe and America in the second half of 2022.

Technical specifications

1. Running at B1 5,500-sph (70-m/min), the VariJet 106 combines the strengths of digital inkjet with those of classic offset printing and inline finishing
2. Based on Fuji Dimatix Samba inkjet heads, the 1200x1200-dpi provides offset class output quality
3. Using seven-colour water-based food compliant inkjet technology (CMYK plus orange, green and violet), the VariJet 106 is suitable for primary food applications
4. The inks, primer and cleaning fluids come from Durst, while Koenig & Bauer supplies digital web primer and rinse fluid for capping units
5. The base array and head cleaning is based on the CorruJet, another Koenig & Bauer Durst product
6. The minimum sheet size that can be printed is 750x500-mm and the maximum is 1,060x740-mm all types of typical folding carton substrates (uncoated and coated material) thickness size ranges from 0.2 to 0.8-mm
7. The standard configuration of the VariJet 106 with inline primer and overprint varnishes (OPVs) is 28-m long, 4.1-m high and 5.9-m wide