Koenig & Bauer MetalPrint as a system supplier for the metal packaging industry offers solutions for the decorating of 2- and 3-piece cans. We supply complete systems for printing, coating and drying of metal sheets as well as printing and drying systems for 2-piece cans.

3-piece decorating
Complete, individually designed systems for printing, coating and drying of metal sheets made of tin, aluminium or steel. High performance printing and coating machines, energy efficient drying systems including all technical and control equipment necessary for high quality metal decorating.

• Printing
• Coating
• Drying
• Sheet handling
• Air purification

2-piece decorating

With CanSolutions, the comprehensive printing expertise of Koenig & Bauer MetalPrint is now also made available to specialist beverage can decorators, complementing the company’s product portfolio for the 2-piece market. New, highly advanced printing technology is combined with established products such as pin and belt curing ovens and brought together under the name Can Solutions.

• Printing
• Drying
  

  History
  

  The origins of Koenig & Bauer-MetalPrint lie in the globally renowned companies Mailänder, LTG and Bauer + Kunzi. These three companies have been setting the standards throughout the history of metal decorating.
  

  Founding of Druckmaschinenfabrik Mailänder in 1876 is an instrumental step in the development of a metal decorating industry.

  In 1888 Mailänder presents the first printing press designed specifically to handle metal sheets. The world-famous Mailänder press, which has seen constant further development through to the present day, stands for reliability, a robust construction and repeatable printing results.
  

  In 1924 founding of “Cärrier Lufttechnische Gesellschaft”, later renamed LTG Lufttechnische GmbH, as a manufacturer of air conditioning systems for various branches of industry in Stuttgart.

  In 1926 Mailänder develops the first coating machine for metal sheets. In 1974 Founding of Bauer + Kunzi as a supplier of metal decorating presses in Ditzingen near Stuttgart. In 1995 Bauer + Kunzi launches the MetalStar 1, the first metal decorating press in modular unit design. It is the outcome of cooperation with KBA-Planeta, the market leader for large-format sheetfed offset printing presses, and heralded a new era of high-speed multi-colour printing with production outputs up to 10,000 sheets per hour.
  

  Launching of the MetalStar 2, also known as the MetalStar PR. It is sold around the world in numerous configurations, including an eight-colour version with integrated dryer tower for UV coatings.

  Bauer + Kunzi is taken over by Würzburg-based KBA, a leading manufacturer of paper printing presses. This enables KBA to enter the metal decorating market and to expand its product portfolio accordingly.

  In 2006 LTG Mailänder is taken over by KBA subsidiary Bauer + Kunzi, which is subsequently renamed KBA MetalPrint 2006.

  With development of the Mailänder 280, KBA-MetalPrint brings together the best of two worlds – proven Mailänder technology combined with the high-performance printing units of the MetalStar series in 2013.

  In 2017 Koenig & Bauer-MetalPrint enters the digital printing market with the MetalDecojet, the first digital press developed specifically to serve the metal packaging industry.
  

  In 2021 even more effective, equipped with the latest features, the new MetalStar 4 presents itself in an exclusive modern design. It continues to set the performance benchmark in terms of production speed and makeready times in metal printing. It therefore remains what it has always been: the most innovative and modern high-performance press in metal decorating.