Koenig & Bauer’s ‘Impact’ Strategic Framework

Koenig & Bauer AG held its 101st ordinary Annual General Meeting at the Vogel Convention Center (VCC) in Würzburg. 

Against the backdrop of a persistently volatile global environment, the Executive Board presented the targeted transformation of the long-established company to the shareholders. 

Under the strategic framework “IMPACT”, Koenig & Bauer is consistently realigning its priorities to increase operational resilience, secure market positions, and realize revenue potential by optimizing the Group footprint. 

Chief Executive Officer Dr Stephen Kimmich highlighted the structural challenges facing European mechanical engineering. In order to actively counter prevailing conditions, the company is focusing on fundamentally strengthening its own speed of implementation.

Dr Stephen Kimmich explained, “We are shifting our focus from mere diversification and product development to consistent implementation and measurable impact – to our new strategic framework: ‘IMPACT’… ‘IMPACT’ contains the description of an attitude: ‘I ACT’. It is about implementing, shaping, simply doing. A strategy is only successful if it is translated into continuous motion and dynamics.”

IMPACT Pillars

I –Intelligence: the Group is holistically integrating AI and automation into its processes and products. Using innovative no-code technology, Koenig & Bauer is breaking down the barriers of classic automation. The newly created Factory & Machine Automation unit acts as the Group-wide driver of this flexible architecture; the first customer installation is planned for the first quarter of 2027.

M – Market (Go-to-Market): Global scaling of digital printing with over 70 installed presses (platforms: RotaJET, VariJET, MetJET ONE). Expansion of flexo printing via the Würzburg demo press, including the world premiere of the EasyTronic feature as well as the opening up of the e-commerce corrugated board market through the CutPRO Q 2.1die-cutter and the modular Chroma series.

P – People: Activation of personal initiative in the teams through the motto “I ACT” and a practical bottom-up toolkit. This is flanked by the expansion of HR Excellence on the Campus as well as the establishment of the new “U.S. Training Center” for the targeted empowerment of customers.

A – Adaptability: Reduction of fixed costs through the scheduled closure of the Albert-Frankenthal site in May 2026. At the same time, the “Service Excellence” initiative is strengthening resilience – including through a US AI service assistant for technicians and advanced digitalization (80% remote resolution rate in Digital & Webfed).

C – Competitiveness: Targeted positioning in price-sensitive mid-tech markets in competition with Asian providers through the MetalKing packaging press (first sales in China/India) and the new “Prima series” from Koenig & Bauer Celmacch. In parallel, the “Add Value” program is lowering manufacturing costs in the existing portfolio through intelligent complexity reduction and component optimization. 

T – Technology: Transformation into a system orchestrator – software is becoming the new “soul” of the machine. The end-to-end PrintFusion solution (with partner Hybrid Software) massively reduces makeready times. In addition, the myKyana customer portal and the “protected at print” security initiative (with Stegano) via smartphone verification lay the digital foundation for the product passport of the future.

The “IMPACT” strategic framework sets the direction until 2030 and beyond to increase operational resilience and consistently secure the market position.

2025 Financial Year

In the 2025 financial year, Koenig & Bauer met its forecast, achieving Group revenue of €1,302.4m (+2.2%). Operating EBIT improved to €36.6m, significantly supported by the “Spotlight” focus program. 

While the Paper & Packaging segment proved remarkably resilient, a successful turnaround was achieved in the Special & New Technologies segment with an operating EBIT of €9.0m.

The positive trend at the start of the year 2026 underlines the operational resilience against the general industry trend. In the first quarter, revenue rose by +3.2% to €260.2m, while order intake climbed strongly by +21.4% to €297.6m (highest Q1 figure for two years).