Inkjet offers higher security · Marc Hunsänger · Director Protection Technology · Koenig & Bauer
At Koenig & Bauer’s variJET Open House in Radebeul, I speak with Marc Hunsänger, and this is a part of the story that is easy to overlook, but increasingly important.
Because print is not only about communication. It’s about authenticity.
Marc comes from the Vision & Protection side of Koenig & Bauer, with roots in banknote technology, and what they are now doing is bringing that level of thinking into commercial and packaging print. When you combine that with a digital platform like the variJET, things start to change.
Because if every sheet can be different, every sheet can also be secured.
What he explains is that variable data is not just a marketing tool, it’s a protection layer. Hidden serial numbers, encrypted codes, unique identifiers, all integrated into the print itself. And the more variation you have, the harder it becomes to copy.
That’s a fundamental shift.
Of course, there is a challenge in that. If it works, you don’t see it. And if you don’t see it, it’s not always easy to explain the value. That’s why certification and verification become important, being able to prove that the protection is there, and that it works, through inspection and validation systems.
It’s not just about adding security. It’s about making it measurable.
We also touch on applications. Packaging is the obvious one, brand protection, anti-counterfeiting, traceability. But it doesn’t stop there. Books, collectibles, trading cards, anything where authenticity has value becomes relevant.
And that broadens the perspective quite a bit.
What I take from this conversation is that print is evolving into something more than a visual medium. It becomes part of a system, linking physical products with data, identity, and verification. And that’s where technologies like this start to matter.
Watch the interview with Marc Hunsänger to understand how security and digital print come together, and why protection may become a much bigger part of the conversation going forward.
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Wed April 29th
Inkjet is ALSO Optimizing Offset · Daniel V...
At Koenig & Bauer Durst’s variJET Open House in Radebeul, I speak with Daniel Velema about a machine that has taken time to get here, and for good reason. The variJET hasn’t been rushed to market. As Daniel explains, the focus has been on getting it right, not getting it out. That means working closely with customers, refining the platform, and making sure it performs in real production, not just in demos. What stands out is the platform thinking. Markets change fast, and any machine designed years ago would look different if you started today. The answer is not to freeze technology, but to build something that can evolve. New inks, new printheads, new drying technologies, all of that needs to fit into a system customers can run for a decade or more. At the same time, this is no longer development. Machines are in the field, more are being installed, and the positioning is becoming clear. Folding carton is the core application, where the combination of flexibility, SKU variation, and turnaround time creates real value alongside offset. But as always, customers will push it further. Calendars, posters, commercial work, things that were never the primary intention, are already being tested. That’s where platforms prove their value. Watch the interview with Daniel Velema to hear how a long development process turns into a production-ready platform, and why patience may have been the right strategy.