KBA develops new unit focused on digital transformation that includes printing presses, digital products, including Kyana, first market-ready AI application in printing industry, as part of its transition from machine manufacturer to technology provider

Sample article from our Transformation & Innovation

September 29, 2022 (press release) –

Press release from the issuing company

As a component of the group strategy EXCEEDING PRINT, a new digital unit coordinates and supports the development, implementation and market launch of digital products and services at Koenig & Bauer.

Intelligent solutions for added value

  • New unit established to accelerate the digital transformation
  • Transition from manufacturing company to technology provider
  • Kyana as the first market-ready AI application in the industry
  • Integration of existing digital solutions and systematic development of new services

Koenig & Bauer has already transformed the world of print on any number of occasions. It has long since transitioned from a classic manufacturing company into an agile technology provider, and numerous digital products and offers complement its printing machinery. With a new group-wide unit focussed on the digital transformation, Koenig & Bauer is now intensifying its development of new business models and digital solutions covering the full lifecycle of print products.

Koenig & Bauer’s group strategy EXCEEDING PRINT adopts global megatrends as a basis to further advance the company’s digital transformation and to continue its development of digital business models. New digital products associated with the company’s core product – printing presses for practically all substrates and technologies – are being added to the portfolio, and ensure that customers can continue to rely on maximum productivity and availability in the future. “The digital transformation is ‘people business’. The realignments in corporate and innovation culture, combined with the development of modern software products for our customers, are driving the company’s transition from a machine manufacturer to a technology provider,” says Ralf Sammeck, member of the Executive Board and CDO at Koenig & Bauer. “We are becoming ‘digital trusted advisors’ to our customers and can use data to derive recommendations for action, for example to make production more efficient.”

The new digital unit has been operating at group level since 2022, coordinating and supporting the development, implementation and market launch of digital products and services – from the initial idea through to commercial viability. “We direct our focus at our customers and provide them with support wherever they can make their businesses even more profitable with digital solutions,” says Sandra Wagner, Vice President Digitalisation and head of the interdisciplinary team. As the former Head of Sales and Marketing at group subsidiary Koenig & Bauer Coding, she helped to give a face to artificial intelligence: The digital assistant Kyana offers every option for smart production support, from remote service to predictive maintenance. Wagner and her team are planning to further expand this service and intend to integrate Koenig & Bauer’s already existing capabilities for recording, analysing and interpreting machine data using artificial intelligence into a central, AI-assisted platform for customers.

Furthermore, the market launch of a digital product that unites two key components of the group strategy EXCEEDING PRINT, namely sustainability and digitalisation, is imminent. After all, Koenig & Bauer and its global customers not only exert a decisive influence over the world of print and packaging, but also share responsibility for structuring production processes sustainably.

* All content is copyrighted by Industry Intelligence, or the original respective author or source. You may not recirculate, redistrubte or publish the analysis and presentation included in the service without Industry Intelligence's prior written consent. Please review our terms of use.

See our dashboard in action - schedule an demo
Chelsey Quick
Chelsey Quick
- VP Client Success -

We offer built-to-order transformation & innovation coverage for our clients. Contact us for a free consultation.

About Us

We deliver market news & information relevant to your business.

We monitor all your market drivers.

We aggregate, curate, filter and map your specific needs.

We deliver the right information to the right person at the right time.

Our Contacts

1990 S Bundy Dr. Suite #380,
Los Angeles, CA 90025

+1 (310) 553 0008

About Cookies On This Site

We collect data, including through use of cookies and similar technology ("cookies") that enchance the online experience. By clicking "I agree", you agree to our cookies, agree to bound by our Terms of Use, and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. For more information on our data practices and how to exercise your privacy rights, please see our Privacy Policy.