At Interpack 2026, Sappi and Koenig & Bauer present a collaboration shaped by practical application. It brings together material expertise and printing technology to address a common challenge: achieving consistent print performance across technologies while increasing production efficiency and workability.
The result is a solution developed through continuous testing, shared expertise and real production conditions. This approach reflects a shared commitment to delivering solutions that are not only technically robust, but also practical to implement at scale, supporting converters and brand owners in meeting both performance and operational requirements.
A single substrate across multiple print processes
A defining outcome of the collaboration is the ability to use one paper across different printing technologies. Tested on both digital and flexo presses, Sappi’s barrier paper delivers ultimate performance without requiring adaptation.
What makes this material so valuable for us is its versatility. We can take one substrate and run it across digital and CI-Flexo without any modification. There is no need to manage different media for different applications, it’s one solution that works consistently across technologies.
Oliver Baar, Director Product Marketing at Koenig & Bauer Digital & Webfed AG & Co. KG
This reduces complexity for converters, simplifying stock management and enabling greater flexibility across production processes.
Efficiency built into the material
The paper’s integrated barrier and heat-seal functionality contributes directly to more efficient workflows. By removing the need for additional coating or sealing steps, production becomes more streamlined.
For printers, this means fewer process stages and reduced intervention on press. In digital printing environments, it also limits the need for additional units, helping to optimise both investment and operational efficiency.
From a printing perspective, having a substrate with integrated barrier and sealing properties is a clear advantage. It means we don’t need extra units or additional coating steps. That drastically shortens production time and simplifies the process significantly.
Falko Baltrusch, Senior Manager Customer Technology Center & Process Technology at Koenig & Bauer Digital & Webfed AG & Co. KG
Consistent performance on press
Across trials and live demonstrations, the material has shown reliable behaviour and predictable results. Print quality remains stable, and setup requirements are minimal.
This consistency extends across different paper grades within Sappi’s portfolio. While barrier properties vary depending on application, the print surface is designed to behave in a uniform way.
Our focus is to ensure consistent printability across the portfolio. While functionality may differ depending on the application, the surface performance remains stable. That consistency is key for converters working across different packaging formats.
Kerstin Dietze, Key Account Manager Paper & Packaging Solutions at Sappi
A partnership built on collaboration
The collaboration between Sappi and Koenig & Bauer has developed through close, hands-on cooperation. Since 2022, both teams have worked together through trials, technical validation and live demonstrations.
Engineers and specialists have collaborated directly on press, enabling rapid testing and continuous refinement of applications. This practical approach supports faster problem-solving and ensures solutions are grounded in real production needs. This close cooperation also enables faster iteration cycles, where insights from testing can be directly translated into improvements. By working in this way, both partners reduce development time and ensure that new applications are not only technically viable, but ready to perform under real production conditions from the outset.
From testing to real applications
At Interpack, the collaboration is presented through tangible packaging formats, including printed pouches that reflect actual production conditions.
These applications demonstrate how paper-based solutions can combine barrier performance, print quality and process efficiency in one material, all without introducing additional complexity.
Continuous development
Both Sappi and Koenig & Bauer Digital & Webfed continue to build on this collaboration, exploring new substrates and applications while preparing future demonstrations.
As requirements evolve, the focus remains on solutions that are reliable, scalable and straightforward to implement, developed through collaboration and proven in practice.