Koenig & Bauer MetalPrint reports a positive conclusion following the close of MetPack 2026 in Essen, with this year's trade fair appearance characterised by pioneering innovations, strategic partnerships, and intensive professional exchange.
Under the maxim of ‘mastering every dimension of metal decorating’, the company presented its comprehensive systems for metal decoration, covering the entire process chain with printing and coating lines, drying systems, exhaust air purification plants, and extensive services.
The offering encompasses the complete project lifecycle – from initial assessment and development to individually designed installations from a single source.
Honours and milestones
A major highlight for Koenig & Bauer was winning the MetPack Innovation Award in silver, being recognised for its ‘Closed-Loop Inline Coating Thickness Control’ system.
This closed-loop system enables constant coating thickness at the push of a button. Through continuous monitoring and automatic adjustment during operation, the system ensures that deviations are corrected immediately before they can impact quality.
This technology contributes significantly to process stability, as well as material and resource efficiency, by minimising waste and significantly reducing coating consumption.
The market’s trust in Koenig & Bauer MetalPrint’s system expertise was also reflected in several significant contract signings, including Poonsub (Thailand), who officially finalised the purchase of a MetalStar 4 and a MetalCoat 471; and Interscambi (Italy), who’s agreement was concluded for the investment in a new MetalCoat 471 coating line.
These agreements underscore the market's confidence in high-performance solutions from Koenig & Bauer MetalPrint to increase production efficiency.
The partnership with the Chinese Beiqi Group received special recognition, as they were honoured as the ‘High Performance Metal Decorator of the Year 2026’.
Beiqi invested in the world's first 10-color MetalStar 4 as a complete UV line – a technological milestone that enables the production of highly complex designs in a single printing pass.
During a ‘Happy Hour’ event, the company also commemorated the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Mailänder company. This look back at the origins of metal printing technology is part of the foundation upon which the current innovative strength of Koenig & Bauer MetalPrint is built upon.
Focus on knowledge transfer
Koenig & Bauer provided information on current trends through specialist presentations in the ‘Talk in a Can’ series.
Benjamin Törkö, product manager, opened the program with his presentation on redefining efficiency through setup time optimisation in metal decoration using ‘Rapid Changeover’.
Damian Pollok, head of product management, spoke on the implementation of digital printing solutions; while Olga Martin, product manager, presented concepts for maximum efficiency and sustainable drying processes in metal coating.
Following the momentum from numerous customer discussions and new project inquiries, Koenig & Bauer MetalPrint said it is looking optimistically toward the 2026 fiscal year.