Koenig & Bauer launches new subsidiary as part of digital transformation

Koenig & Bauer, the world’s oldest printing press manufacturer still in service, is in the midst of a transition from a traditional machine manufacturer to what it describes as “an agile technology provider”.

On April 1^st, the German manufacturer’s Digital Unit, which previously operated under the Koenig & Bauer Group umbrella, was spun off from the holding company into a wholly owned subsidiary. This is part of the company’s strategy to becoming a major digital solutions player in the printing and packaging sectors.

The new subsidiary, Koenig & Bauer Kyana, will be part of the company’s Special & New Technologies segment.

Sandra Wagner, previously vice president of Digitalisation at Koenig & Bauer, has been appointed managing director of the new Kyana subsidiary.

The spin-off is designed to enable the company to meet customer needs in a more targeted manner and to exploit the growth potential of the digital market segment, which Koenig & Bauer has calculated to be highly dynamic.

Koenig & Bauer Kyana will concentrate on the development of digital business models as well as artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven solutions designed to enhance the entire life cycle of print products.

The transformation into an independent software company also aims to enable the targeted development of specialised areas such as digital sales, a dedicated onboarding and support team, and enhanced customer care.

The Digital Unit was first launched in 2022 as part of the implementation of a group strategy titled ‘exceeding print’, which publicly introduced Koenig & Bauer’s concept of digital transformation.

At the time of the launch of the Digital Unit, Dr Andreas Pleßke, chief executive officer of Koenig & Bauer, said: “A 204-year-old company isn’t around for 204 years if it doesn’t have the ability to reinvent itself from time to time and to adapt to ever-changing environment.”

Since launching, the Digital Unit has released a range of digital solutions including myKyana, a central portal of digital solutions designed to enable predictive maintenance, optimised planning, and an improved overall transparency of the print production process.

Other tools developed by the business unit include an AI-powered chatbot called Kyana Assist, a production data analysis tool dubbed Kyana Data, and VisuEnergy X, an energy management system optimised for the print and packaging industry.

Speaking of the new subsidiary, Sandra Wagner, newly appointed managing director of Koenig & Bauer Kyana, says: “Our customers are at the heart of everything we do. With Koenig & Bauer Kyana, we are creating the necessary organisational structure of an agile software company, which enables us to respond even faster and more comprehensively to the needs of our customers.”

Pleßke adds: “We are convinced that this strategic spin-off, combined with the concentration and consolidation of our outstanding expertise in the field of digitalisation, will make a significant contribution to the long-term success of our company.”

Koenig & Bauer has announced several major changes to its organisational structure in recent months.  

In January, it was announced that Ralph Sammeck, chief executive officer of Koenig & Bauer Sheetfed, will retire on June 30th 2025.

Markus Weiss replaced Sammeck as managing director and chief executive officer of Koenig & Bauer Sheetfed from February 1^st, while also becoming a member of the group management reporting to the executive board.

In December 2024, Koenig & Bauer also announced a series of group realignments including eliminating a senior position and reducing its company segments from three to two.

The changes were reportedly initiated by Pleßke in close consultation with the company’s supervisory board.

The position of central chief operating officer was eliminated after Michael Ulverich left the company by mutual agreement on November 30th, 2024.