The OEM has partnered with KBA to provide inkjet solutions for the corrugated packaging market.
The partnership between HP and KBA (Koenig & Bauer Group) was announced at Graph Expo 2014, and will see the two companies work together on the “high-volume inkjet solutions” in corrugated packaging “and beyond”, with the “digital innovations” set to “open new application and market opportunities”.
The solutions consist of “roll-to-roll” inkjet solutions to be used in the corrugated packaging market, with the products to be marketed under HP’s branding, and designed to help packaging converters “increase productivity, scalability and versatility” in a market worth around $2.5 billion (€1.9 billion) that is “steadily increasing worldwide due to brand globalisation, population growth and a resurging economy”.
The high-speed roll-to-roll thermal inkjet products will aim to “provide value chain cost savings while meeting brands’ rigorous quality and volume requirements”, as other factors including “stock keeping unit (SKU) proliferation” and “micro-segmentation and shorter product lifecycles” are said to be “driving demand for the shorter run lengths enabled by digital print”.
HP stated that the agreement “demonstrates HP’s continued pursuit of corrugated packaging opportunities and intention to broaden its portfolio of inkjet products and solutions”, whilst KBA will “bring its strengths in paper handling, manufacturing scale and wide knowledge of the packaging market” to the partnership.
Aurelio Maruggi, Vice President and General Manager of HP’s Inkjet High-Speed Production Solutions, stated: “Addressing the enormous digital opportunity in the corrugated market requires best-in-class technology innovation, portfolio scale and market leadership. HP brings this unique combination as well as proven customer success and upgradability to this challenge, and together with KBA, HP can bring even greater value to high-end converters.”
Christoph Müller, Executive Vice President of KBA’s Web Press Business Unit, added: “KBA has a rich heritage of developing innovative solutions that meet or exceed customers’ quality expectations. In working with HP, we will combine our complementary technological strengths to meet the needs of packaging converters.”