中文When an ink company and a press manufacturer announce a formal partnership, it usually means one thing: they’ve figured out that selling isolated products isn’t enough anymore. Customers want an ecosystem that works together from the start.
That’s exactly what INX International Ink and Koenig & Bauer are delivering. The two companies have partnered to create optimized LED-UV, HR-UV, and UV printing technology that improves efficiency, color consistency, and sustainability for commercial printers and packaging converters worldwide.
On paper, this sounds like another industry collaboration announcement. But dig into the details and there’s real substance here.
Through testing on Koenig & Bauer’s Rapida press platforms, INX’s energy-curable ink systems have demonstrated measurable improvements: reduced makeready times, better color stability, less waste, and more consistent print quality. These aren’t theoretical benefits — they’re results from actual press testing.
INX CEO Bryce Kristo framed the partnership’s value proposition clearly: “Today’s printers face increasing pressure to improve productivity, reduce waste and operate more sustainably. By combining Koenig & Bauer’s industry-leading press technology with INX’s expertise in energy-curable ink systems, we are delivering integrated solutions that help customers achieve measurable operational improvements.”
But the more interesting quote came from Koenig & Bauer’s Dirk Winkler: “Our customers do not need isolated products; they need a seamless ecosystem stretching from the pressroom to the finished package.”
That’s the shift happening across the industry. Press makers used to sell presses. Ink companies used to sell inks. Now the smart ones are selling integrated solutions — because the pain points printers face (waste on makeready, color inconsistency, energy costs, sustainability targets) can’t be solved by optimizing just one part of the process.
LED-UV curing technology is a particular focus of this partnership. It’s been gaining traction for several reasons: lower energy consumption compared to conventional UV, instant curing that eliminates drying time, and the ability to work with heat-sensitive substrates. But getting LED-UV to perform optimally requires the right ink formulation paired with the right press configuration. That’s where a partnership like this adds real value — the testing and optimization has already been done for you.
The collaboration also extends beyond technology. Customers get joint training, demonstrations, workshops, and technical support through Koenig & Bauer’s global demo and training centers. That means you can evaluate performance under real-world conditions before committing — rather than discovering integration problems after installation.
INX’s global R&D organization is backing the partnership’s continued development, including work on food packaging safety, healthy printing, and future Cradle-to-Cradle aligned initiatives. This is a long-term bet on making energy-curable printing not just more efficient but more sustainable in the broader sense.
For printers evaluating their next press or ink investment, this kind of pre-tested, pre-optimized combination reduces risk. You’re not guessing whether the ink will work on the press — you know it will, because someone already tested it for you.
Source: Labels & Labeling — https://www.labelsandlabeling.com/news/inks-coatings/inx-and-koenig-bauer-advance-led-uv-printing
