The VarieJET is a platform · Tom Sander · Product Manager · Koenig & Bauer Durst · Open House
At Koenig & Bauer’s VariJET Open House in Radebeul, we speak with Tom Sander about the variJET platform—and how it is moving from promise to production.
The question is simple: is the variJET platform finally ready? The answer is not about a launch moment, but about maturity. With installations running and more machines being deployed, this is where development meets reality. Koenig & Bauer is no longer talking about potential—they are focusing on what works.
And that focus is tight. B1 format. Folding carton. Proven configurations like double and triple coater setups. Rather than pushing every possible hybrid combination, the strategy right now is to bring stable, validated solutions to market—and build from there.
The variJET platform is, at its core, a modular concept. Built on the Rapida ecosystem, it allows integration of offset units, flexo stations, coatings, and digital inkjet in one line. But modularity only matters when it translates into real applications—and that’s exactly what we are starting to see.
A key step has been the development of new ink sets, rolled out in 2025. According to Tom Sander, this has significantly improved quality and expanded the application range—particularly into demanding segments like cosmetics and luxury packaging, where expectations are unforgiving and results are visible on the shelf.
What stands out in this conversation is also the mindset. This isn’t a “sit back and wait” phase. It’s hands-on. Customer visits. Real-world feedback. Continuous refinement. Because platforms don’t succeed in theory—they succeed in production.
There’s also a realism that matters. Development cycles are long, and the market has changed dramatically over the past decade. But instead of chasing every opportunity, Koenig & Bauer is staying disciplined—focusing on folding carton, on B1, and on delivering a platform that works.
The variJET platform is no longer just a concept. It’s becoming a production reality.
Watch the full interview with Tom Sander to understand how the variJET platform is being positioned for the future.
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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.