On April 21 and 22, 2026, approximately 170 converters, brand owners, and industry experts gathered in Würzburg, Germany, for the Koenig & Bauer Technology Days 2026. The two-day event placed CI flexo printing technology at the center of the conversation about modern packaging production. For packaging converters and machinery buyers, the event delivered more than product announcements. It offered a clear signal about where flexo technology, digital integration, and connected packaging are heading in the second half of this decade.

Dr. Stephen Kimmich, CEO of Koenig & Bauer, opened the event by acknowledging the challenging market environment while emphasizing the strategic advantage of a broad technology portfolio spanning flexo and digital printing. The message was clear: converters who align their production floors with both technologies will be best positioned as brand owners demand shorter runs, faster turnarounds, and more sustainable substrates.

XD Pro CI Flexo: The New Workhorse for Modern Packaging

The undisputed star of the Technology Days was the XD Pro CI flexo press, positioned by Koenig & Bauer as the workhorse of modern flexo production. Live demonstrations at the Customer Technology Centre showed the machine handling a remarkably diverse range of applications: stand-up pouches, chocolate packaging, mono-material films, and fiber-based packaging. All jobs were produced in Extended Colour Gamut (ECG), demonstrating the press’s ability to hit brand-color accuracy without spot-color ink changes.

This versatility matters because packaging converters in 2026 are under pressure to accept a wider variety of jobs with shorter average run lengths. A single press that can switch between flexible packaging substrates and fiber-based materials without extensive reconfiguration directly improves machine utilization rates. According to industry estimates, flexo printing still accounts for approximately 65% of global packaging print volume, and CI flexo presses remain the preferred choice for mid-to-long runs where quality consistency and low per-unit cost are non-negotiable.

EasyTronic CI Flexo: 80% Faster Web Threading Makes Its World Debut

Perhaps the most consequential technical reveal at the Technology Days was EasyTronic CI Flexo, a feature demonstrated live for the first time anywhere. The system uses a one-sided heat-resistant belt to guide the entire web through the complete web path, including the notoriously complex central cylinder section. The result, according to Koenig & Bauer, is up to 80% time savings compared to conventional web threading systems.

For packaging printers, this innovation addresses one of flexo’s most persistent pain points: job changeover time. In an era where average run lengths continue to shrink and SKU proliferation accelerates, minutes saved on every changeover compound into significant annual capacity gains. A converter running three shifts with frequent job changes could recover hundreds of production hours per year. The technology draws on decades of Koenig & Bauer experience in newspaper press automation, transferred now to the packaging sector where it arguably delivers even greater impact.

Flexo Meets Digital: The Production Race That Revealed a Smarter Strategy

One of the event’s most talked-about segments was a production race between the XD Pro CI flexo press and the RotaJET digital press, both running folding carton applications. The demonstration was not designed to declare a single winner but to illustrate how flexo and digital complement each other within a modern packaging workflow.

The takeaway for converters was nuanced: digital printing excels at ultra-short runs, variable data, and rapid versioning, while CI flexo delivers superior economics at medium-to-long runs with consistent color quality. Forward-thinking packaging manufacturers are increasingly building hybrid production floors where both technologies coexist, with workflow software routing each job to the most cost-effective press. This convergence reflects a broader industry trend: packaging production in 2026 is less about choosing one technology and more about building flexible capacity that can respond to whatever the brand owner demands next.

Connected Packaging: Every Box Becomes a Digital Touchpoint

All packaging produced live during the Technology Days incorporated AURAVEO Connected Packaging functionality. Thomas Vollmuth, Head of Brand Owner Management and Marketing Activation for the AURAVEO Platform, delivered a dedicated presentation explaining how connected packaging enables digital interaction, traceability, regulatory communication, and product information delivery through the physical package itself.

This development has significant implications for the broader packaging supply chain. When every printed package becomes a data carrier, the requirements placed on downstream converting equipment increase proportionally. Rigid box makers, case makers, and paper bag machines must produce packaging that not only looks flawless but also preserves the integrity of printed codes, QR markers, and digital watermarks that brand owners increasingly rely on for consumer engagement and supply chain visibility.

What the Technology Days Signal for Packaging Converters

The Koenig & Bauer Technology Days 2026 delivered three clear signals for packaging manufacturers worldwide:

First, automation is no longer optional. EasyTronic CI Flexo demonstrates that even established technologies like flexo printing can achieve step-change productivity improvements through intelligent automation. Converters who delay automation investments risk falling behind competitors who can quote shorter lead times and lower costs.

Second, substrate flexibility is a competitive advantage. The XD Pro’s demonstrated ability to handle mono-materials, fiber-based substrates, and traditional films on a single press reflects where the market is heading. As extended producer responsibility regulations tighten globally, converters need equipment that can process both conventional and sustainable materials without compromising quality or speed.

Third, the line between printing and converting continues to blur. Connected packaging and digital workflows mean that decisions made at the printing stage increasingly affect downstream box making, case binding, and bag forming operations. Smart converters are investing in both printing and converting equipment that can communicate across the production floor.

For packaging manufacturers building or upgrading their production lines, the message from Würzburg is clear: the most competitive operations in 2026 are those where printing presses and finishing equipment work as an integrated system, not as isolated stations. Whether you run flexo presses from industry leaders like Koenig & Bauer or operate downstream converting machinery, the ability to synchronize workflows and maintain quality across every production step is what separates market leaders from the rest.

At Kylin Machines, we see this integration trend reflected in the growing demand for automated rigid box production lines, high-speed case maker machines, and rigid box forming machines that can keep pace with the output of modern printing presses. When upstream printing gets faster and smarter, downstream converting must follow. Explore our full range of packaging machinery solutions to build a production floor ready for the demands of 2026 and beyond.