Koenig & Bauer used its 101st Annual General Meeting to outline progress on its 'IMPACT' strategic framework, with packaging, automation and artificial intelligence initiatives featuring prominently in its plans through to 2030.
Speaking at the meeting in Würzburg, Stephen Kimmich, chief executive officer at Koenig & Bauer, said the company was focusing on implementation and operational resilience in response to market pressures facing the European mechanical engineering sector.
“We are shifting our focus from mere diversification and product development to consistent implementation and measurable impact, to our new strategic framework: ‘IMPACT’,” Kimmich said.
Packaging-related developments highlighted at the AGM included expansion of flexographic printing through a Würzburg demonstration press, the launch of the EasyTronic feature, and growth in the corrugated packaging sector through the CutPRO Q 2.1 die-cutter and the modular Chroma series.
The company also pointed to its MetalKing packaging press, which has recorded its first sales in China and India, and the new Prima series from Koenig & Bauer Celmacch, aimed at price-sensitive mid-technology markets.
Automation formed a key part of the presentation, with Koenig & Bauer showcasing a recently agreed partnership with Munich-based robotics company RobCo. The company said its new Factory & Machine Automation unit will oversee automation activities across the group, with the first customer installation planned for the first quarter of 2027.
During the AGM, RobCo demonstrated robotic systems including palletising applications and a robotic arm stacking Lego components.
Koenig & Bauer also outlined several digital initiatives, including its PrintFusion workflow solution developed with Hybrid Software, the myKyana customer portal, and the “protected at print” security initiative developed with Stegano.
Alexander Blum, chief financial officer at Koenig & Bauer, said artificial intelligence was being integrated across the business through the company’s “House of AI” programme and a partnership with Google.
According to the company, 462 employees have been trained as AI Champions and Executives, while around 30 per cent of employees regularly use AI tools. An AI service agent developed for the Rapida 145 press has been deployed in the United States, where approximately 70 technicians are using the system.
For the first quarter of 2026, Koenig & Bauer reported revenue of €260.2 million, up 3.2 per cent year-on-year, while order intake increased 21.4 per cent to €297.6 million. Order backlog reached €1.008 billion.
The company maintained its outlook for 2026, forecasting revenue in line with the previous year and operating EBITDA of approximately €80 million.