Drukarnia Tamir shifts 5.6 million offset sheets to digital folding carton production

A strategic leap for a legacy offset producer

In a clear signal of the maturing digital folding carton market, Polish packaging manufacturer Drukarnia Tamir is set to commission its first high-volume digital press, a Koenig & Bauer Durst VariJET 106, at the end of August 2026. Founded in 1993 and led by the second generation of the Krywulec family, the company has built a three-decade reputation rooted entirely in conventional offset printing for laminated corrugated packaging, leaflets, and folding cartons.

Operating out of two specialized facilities in Bystrzyca Kłodzka—with a third under construction—Tamir supplies the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, food, automotive, and appliance sectors across Europe. Until now, the company relied on a fleet of nine offset presses to manage its specialized portfolio. The introduction of the VariJET 106 marks a deliberate transition toward industrial-scale digital hybrid production to address the growing demand for flexibility without sacrificing volume.

The business case for hybrid capabilities

Rather than replacing offset entirely, Tamir's investment is designed to optimize overall pressroom efficiency. The new press combines Durst's water-based single-pass inkjet technology with the Koenig & Bauer Rapida 106 platform. Management expects the equipment to absorb more than 3,600 short- and medium-run jobs annually, equivalent to over 5.6 million sheets.

According to CEO Michał Krywulec, the operational shift will allow work that previously required two offset shifts to be completed in a single VariJET shift. Key drivers behind the investment include:

• Capacity optimization: Offloading inefficient short runs frees up Tamir's existing offset presses for longer, more profitable production cycles.
• Cost and waste reduction: The transition is projected to yield six-figure euro annual savings through minimized make-ready waste and lower operational costs.
• Agility in reprint scenarios: Variable data capabilities and zero setup time allow immediate responses to urgent customer requests. In a recent case, a 70,000-carton run required a rapid addition of just 250 boxes—a task perfectly suited for the VariJET without the standard two-hour offset preparation.
• Substrate compatibility: The ability to print digitally on the exact same carton substrates used in offset ensures seamless quality consistency across different printing methods.

Bridging the gap between flexibility and volume

The transition from a purely conventional setup to digital is often viewed as a complex hurdle for established packaging converters. However, the VariJET 106 specifically targets this gap by maintaining an industrial format while deploying water-based inks that align with current packaging safety standards.

For Koenig & Bauer Durst, the installation at Tamir reinforces the argument that digital printing is no longer a peripheral technology for prototypes or ultra-short runs, but a core component of mainstream packaging manufacturing. By integrating digital agility directly into an offset-heavy environment, the Polish converter is securing a competitive edge in a European market demanding faster turnaround times.

This calculated transition proves that digital and offset technologies can successfully coexist to maximize plant efficiency and profitability. How long will it take for hybrid production models to become the absolute baseline for mid-sized folding carton converters across the continent? Follow The Paper for daily news, market signals and key updates from the global paper, corrugated and packaging industry. — Sigue toda la actualidad del sector en www.thepaper.ai