Press maker Koenig & Bauer has signed up with robotics ‘scale-up’ RobCo to launch what it calls a new automation ecosystem.
A strategic partnership with the Munich-based company is part of its ‘Impact’ strategic framework, and aims to further advance automation in the printing and packaging industry.
The company says this will “break down technological silos and deliver the answer to the global shortage of skilled workers”. A first installation is scheduled for early 2027.
RobCo’s systems are designed to automate intermediate steps between printing and subsequent processing of the materials, and use ‘no-code’ technology, in which robots can be taught new tasks without deep programming knowledge.
The partnership is the fundamental key element of an open automation ecosystem with which Koenig & Bauer says it is positioning itself as a general contractor for holistic, end-to-end production processes.
“In times of volatile markets, our customers demand far more than just outstanding printing technology,” says chief executive Stephen Kimmich, “they demand autonomy, fail-safe processes, and absolute resilience along the entire value chain.”
He says the greatest hurdle for manufacturing companies had previously been the complexity of the technical implementation.
RobCo founder Roman Hölzl says this is exactly where they come in: “With our no-code platform, we enable companies to integrate and adapt robotics applications into their production processes much faster and more easily.”
Pictured (from left) Koenig & Bauer’s Christian Steinmaßl, Stephen Kimmich and Markus Faude (vice president factory & machine automation) with Nenad Menga, Arjan van Staveren, and Roman Hölzl of RobCo