In a recent Future Print podcast, Frazer Chesterman spoke with Daniel Velema, Managing Director of the KBA Durst partnership. Daniel, who has been in the role since February, shared his experiences over the past seven months and the direction he’s taking the business. With a background in strategy consulting and previous roles at Flint Group and Xeikon, Daniel offers a fresh perspective on the collaboration between KBA and Durst.

Daniel spoke about how both companies bring their own strengths to the partnership. KBA has a long history of building reliable mechanical platforms, while Durst’s expertise lies in digital printing and workflow integration. Together, they aim to offer solutions for corrugated and folding carton packaging that go beyond what either could achieve alone. Daniel’s main focus is ensuring that both teams work side by side, aligning their goals and understanding the value of collaboration.

One of the key points Daniel made during the conversation is the need to shift the narrative around digital printing. While print quality is important, he believes that the real value lies in process efficiency. Many converters are focused on getting volume through their facilities, and digital printing can offer advantages in areas like short-run jobs and maintaining consistent brand colours. For Daniel, it’s about helping customers see how digital technology can address bottlenecks in their existing processes.

The conversation also touched on the balance between traditional and digital printing. Daniel emphasised that digital doesn’t replace offset or flexo, but rather complements them. He explained that many of their customers use digital printing for initial product launches or limited campaigns, while keeping their main production on conventional presses. The key, according to Daniel, is finding the right balance to optimise efficiency and meet customer demands.

As the industry continues to evolve, Daniel’s approach focuses on bringing practical solutions to the market, helping converters understand where digital can fit into their workflows. His background in strategy and business modelling allows him to look at the bigger picture, ensuring that the KBA Durst partnership meets both technological and business needs.

Daniel’s insights offer a clear vision of how the KBA Durst partnership is adapting to the needs of modern packaging converters, focusing on collaboration, process efficiency, and finding the right solutions for customers.

To find out more, please listen to the podcast here