中文Press manufacturer Koenig & Bauer has achieved its highest first-half order intake in eight years, with a significant increase of 16.9% to €709.3 million (about $1.16 billion) compared with the same period last year. In addition, the order backlog reached a new record high of €1.12 billion ($1.83 billion), giving the company a substantial cushion of confirmed work heading into the second half.
Australia has become a successful market for the company, with ten medium and large format presses installed there since January 2024, a concentration that underscores how regional print markets can outperform on the back of replacement and expansion demand. Group revenue increased slightly in the first half by 1.4% to €558.2 million ($913 million), with its print and paper division returning to profitability in the six months to June at €6.8 million ($11.2 million).
The first half was significant for Koenig & Bauer for reasons beyond the numbers. One of its key rivals, manroland Sheetfed, wound down its press manufacturing facility and closed it completely on 30 June. It was also notable because Koenig & Bauer closed its Albert Frankental web offset factory, 165 years after it was founded, a symbolic end to a long chapter as the group streamlines its portfolio toward higher-momentum segments.
What the Announcement Covers
Koenig & Bauer now operates two divisions. Print and Paper is the largest, with first-half revenue of €299.3 million, 3.1% lower than the prior corresponding period. Special & New Technologies saw revenue rise 5.2% to €269.9 million. Interestingly, most of the order intake growth in Special and New Technologies, which rose 22%, was driven by strong project business at Banknote Solutions, particularly in Africa and Latin America, a reminder that the era of cash is far from over even as digital payments dominate headlines.
Commenting on the first-half figures, CEO Dr. Stephen Kimmich said, “The significant growth in order intake of almost 17% in the first half of the year confirms the traction of our go-to-market strategy. With targeted innovations, we are noticeably strengthening our position in our core business. This momentum gives us the scope to continue systematically expanding our competitiveness.” He added that optimizing structural costs remains a key lever for increasing resilience and sustainably strengthening the foundation for profitable growth.
The group’s full-year outlook foresees revenue at a similar level to 2025, around €1.3 billion ($2.12 billion), contingent on no prolonged military confrontation in the Middle East, no long-lasting disruption of international trade routes, no permanent energy price crisis, and no significant deterioration in the global investment climate. It is a cautious set of caveats that reflects how exposed capital-equipment makers remain to macro and geopolitical shocks.
For printers weighing investments, the results are encouraging. A press builder with a record backlog and rising orders is a healthier counterparty than one fighting for survival, and the Australia installations show that demand for quality sheetfed and large-format equipment remains real in established markets. The closure of the web offset plant also signals disciplined portfolio management rather than nostalgia, which tends to protect long-term service and parts support for the installed base.
Koenig & Bauer’s first half will not silence every concern about the cyclical printing-equipment market, but it does show a builder using targeted innovation and cost discipline to widen its lead in core segments while quietly building a stronger, more diversified order book.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Subject | Koenig & Bauer |
| Key Figure | €709.3 million |
| Year | 2024 |
| Source | https://print21.com.au/koenig-bauer-sees-first-half-orders-surge/ |
Why It Matters for Printers and Converters
- Who is moving: Koenig & Bauer is at the center of this development.
- The number that matters: €709.3 million frames the scale of the commitment.
- Why converters should care: it signals continued momentum in the packaging segment of the printing and packaging value chain.
The broader sheetfed landscape is consolidating. With manroland Sheetfed exiting press manufacturing and Koenig & Bauer closing its venerable web offset plant, the field of Western press builders has thinned, leaving fewer names competing for major installations. That consolidation can favor the survivors, who inherit service relationships and a hungry installed base, provided they can deliver the automation and productivity buyers now demand.
Special & New Technologies tells an interesting second story. The 22% order growth there was powered largely by Banknote Solutions in Africa and Latin America, a reminder that security printing and cash infrastructure remain substantial, even as consumer payments go digital. For a builder, that diversification cushions exposure to cyclical commercial print and adds a steadier, project-based revenue line.
The Australia momentum is a useful case study for regional markets elsewhere. Ten mid- and large-format presses installed since early 2024 suggest replacement demand and capacity expansion are alive in established economies when service and local presence are strong. For printers weighing a capital purchase, a builder with a record backlog and rising orders is a safer long-term partner, and Koenig & Bauer’s first half shows one that is currently riding the right side of the cycle.
The closure of the Albert Frankental web offset plant is symbolic as much as operational. Founded 165 years ago, the site represented a chapter of print history, and ending it underscores how far demand has shifted toward sheetfed and digital. For customers still running web offset, the move is a prompt to plan succession, and for Koenig & Bauer it frees resources for the segments where orders are actually growing.
Source: Based on “Koenig & Bauer sees first half orders surge” by Wayne Robinson, Print21.
Looking ahead, this development is a signal worth tracking for the broader printing and packaging sector. As capacity, materials, and investment shift, converters and brand owners who follow such moves early will be better placed to adapt.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is packaging?
Packaging packaging refers to the materials and converting processes that protect, contain, and present products across the supply chain. In the context of this story, it sits within the broader packaging segment of the printing and packaging value chain.
What happened with Koenig & Bauer?
Press manufacturer Koenig & Bauer has achieved its highest first-half order intake in eight years, with a significant increase of 16.9% to €709.3 million (about $1.16 billion) compared with the same period last year. In addition, the order backlog reached a new record high of €1.12 billion ($1.83 billion), giving the company a substantial cushion of confirmed work heading into the second half. According to the report, the move centers on koenig & bauer and its implications for the printing and packaging industry.
Why does this matter for the printing and packaging industry?
Developments like this reflect the ongoing evolution of the printing and packaging market. For label printers, converters, and brand owners, understanding where leading companies are investing helps anticipate shifts in technology, materials, and competitive positioning.
For related coverage, browse our printing & packaging news archive and the latest industry analysis on dhpack.net.
Source: https://print21.com.au/koenig-bauer-sees-first-half-orders-surge/
