Koenig & Bauer and INX forge Global Alliance for LED/UV printing

Presenting the joint agreement: (left to right) Frank Nowak, Head of Service at Koenig & Bauer Sheetfed, Angelo Possemato, Director Business Development & Partnerships at INX International, and Dirk Winkler, Head of Process and Printing Technology and Product Management at Koenig & Bauer SheetfedFaster makeready processes and consistent colour quality through fully optimised ink systems, rigorously tested across Rapida presses.

Koenig & Bauer has announced a strategic partnership with INX International as its globally preferred technology partner for UV, HR-UV, and LED-UV inks. This collaboration will combine Koenig & Bauer’s sheetfed offset press technology with INX’s portfolio of energy-curable inks to create a complete ecosystem for customers.

Dirk Winkler, Head of Process and Printing Technology and Product Management at Koenig & Bauer Sheetfed, says: “Our customers do not need isolated products: they need a seamless ecosystem stretching from the pressroom to the finished packaging. INX’s leading role in energy-curable inks gives printers precisely the flexibility and innovative strength required to turn current industry challenges into a genuine competitive advantage.”

Intensive testing across all Koenig & Bauer Rapida sheetfed offset presses confirms that ink systems such as INXCure® LW and INXCure® UVXcel noticeably cut makeready times and deliver exceptional colour consistency. This reduces material waste during job changeovers and drives up the net production time of the equipment. Building on this, rather than treating presses and consumables as separate entities, both companies now intend to synchronise their core technological competencies, against a shared objective of a print environment that delivers maximum efficiency from the very first sheet.

Another central pillar of the alliance is a mutual focus on ecological and health standards. The LED-UV solutions deployed significantly lower energy consumption during production, thereby improving the carbon footprint of print service providers. At the same time, both partners are pushing forward future standards in ‘Healthy Printing’ and Cradle-to-Cradle certifications, offering brand owners even safer and better access to sustainable packaging solutions.

Koenig & Bauer and INX are already successfully pooling their expertise within Koenig & Bauer’s global demo and training centres, where converters and brand owners can test the performance and sustainability of the systems under real-world production conditions. Regular open-house events, joint appearances at trade fairs, and targeted workshops ensure a continuous transfer of knowledge directly into customers’ operations.

Founded in Japan, INX International is owned by Sakata INX and is the third largest producer of inks in North America. It has subsidiaries in Europe and South America.

This agreement follows another recent strategic partnership for Koenig & Bauer with Munich-based robotics company RobCo, which aims to advance automation in the printing and packaging industry.

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