By Emily Leonczyk, PPC Executive Director and Vice President
There are moments in your career that stay with you—not because of the itinerary, but because of the vision, passion, and people behind it. Visiting Koenig & Bauer’s campus in Radebeul, Germany, was one of those rare moments. From the moment I stepped onto their grounds just outside of Dresden, I felt as though I had entered the epicenter of printing press manufacturing—a place where precision engineering meets bold imagination.
I was honored to attend Koenig & Bauer’s Open House Factory Event this May, just outside of Dresden, and was treated to an immersive, behind-the-scenes look at what it means to lead the way in the future of print and packaging. From the moment I arrived, it was clear that Koenig & Bauer tailor makes each and every press to meet their customers’ exact needs.
The event kicked off at their Customer Experience Center (CEC), where we were introduced to Koenig & Bauer’s impressive ecosystem spanning packaging, label, and commercial print technologies. With live demonstrations around every corner, it was hard not to be amazed by their Rapida presses, folder-gluers and die-cutters. As known leaders in large-format printing technology, their large-format portfolio of 57” and 64” presses were remarkable to see in manufacturing.
But what stood out to me most was the complete folding carton workflow: pre-press, press, and post-press—all integrated, intelligent, and intuitively designed. Watching the presses in action, I was struck not only by their speed and automation but by how Koenig & Bauer is embedding foresight into everything they do. Their connected packaging platform, myKyana, was a showstopper—leveraging AI to add value to printed packaging and deepen consumer engagement.
Throughout the visit, we were encouraged to explore, ask questions, and personalize our experience— with engagement from press design to engineering to product management, as well as senior management. Every person I met was generous with their time, their knowledge, and their pride in the work they do. Many had been with the company for decades—a testament to Koenig & Bauer’s deep-rooted, 208-year culture of quality, care, and long-term relationships.
I was also thankful for the opportunity to connect with several folding carton converters during the visit. We had meaningful conversations about workforce challenges, skilled labor, evolving customer demands, and the global economy. These touchpoints reminded me of the importance of PPC continuing to grow, promote, and protect the future of our industry by listening closely and providing the right tools and connections at the right time.
Koenig & Bauer offers PPC members exclusive access to VIP factory tours, and if you’re interested in joining a future session, I’d be happy to help make that connection.
And then there was the hospitality. From the historic walking tour of Dresden to dinner at the Augustiner and a scenic paddle steamer ride up the Elbe River, the Koenig & Bauer team made sure we experienced the beauty of their city as fully as their technology. At every turn, I felt like I was walking through a living, breathing vision of the future of packaging, reflecting not just on the machines we had seen, but on the people behind them—the true heart of the company.
In a time when our industry is evolving rapidly, Koenig & Bauer is not just keeping pace—they’re setting it. Their commitment to sustainability, automation, and customer-centric innovation positions them not just as a supplier, but as a strategic partner ready to grow with the folding carton industry of tomorrow.
I left with new knowledge, new ideas—and new friends. My sincere thanks to everyone at Koenig & Bauer for the unforgettable experience. Your pioneering spirit is alive and well.