Koenig & Bauer MetalPrint has reported significant sales success in the Chinese market in the 2026 financial year. In addition to the sale of two 10-colour metal decorating lines of the MetalStar 4 type to two established industry players, the company achieved a successful market launch in the region with the first sale of the newly developed MetalKing printing line.

With the sale of two 10-colour metal decorating lines of the MetalStar 4 type, Koenig & Bauer MetalPrint is meeting the ongoing demand for highly automated printing systems in premium metal decorating. The MetalStar 4 stands out for its high production speeds, short set-up times, and precise colour control to meet customers’ stringent quality requirements.

One of the two 10-colour lines is going to the Qingdao-based Beiqi Group, which was named High Performance Metal Decorator of the Year at Metpack in May and is further expanding its high-end printing capacity with this new acquisition. The second 10-colour MetalStar 4 was sold to Tianjin Daman Canmaking Co, based in Tianjin City. An established manufacturer in metal packaging, the company is also relying on integrated MetalCure UV drying technology for its new printing line.

The first sale of a MetalKing in China marks another key milestone. This new single-gripper metal printing press is designed specifically to meet the operational requirements and budget constraints of printing companies in China and India, and is manufactured directly in China.

Key technological components were developed by Koenig & Bauer MetalPrint in Germany, while the manufacturing of the press and the integration of core components take place locally on site.

“This successful market launch makes us extraordinarily proud,” emphasised Ralf Hipp, managing director of Koenig & Bauer MetalPrint. “In a very short space of time, working together with our local partners, we have managed to develop and position a printing press tailored precisely to the specific requirements of the Chinese market. The first sale in China sends out a strong message: it clearly proves that our technological concept is working and our strategic direction is paying off completely.”

These sales and development successes contribute directly to the strategic framework ‘IMPACT’ of the Koenig & Bauer Group – particularly strengthening its core pillars of ‘Market’ and ‘Competitiveness’. On the one hand, Koenig & Bauer MetalPrint is continuing to strategically expand its portfolio. While the MetalStar 4 meets premium-segment requirements worldwide, the MetalKing specifically caters to demand in the growth markets of China and India as part of the global ‘local for local’ strategy. On the other hand, the interplay between central development expertise and locally produced systems boosts competitiveness through optimised supply chains, market-oriented cost structures, and high local service availability.

Through this combination of established premium systems and regionally tailored new developments, Koenig & Bauer MetalPrint is consolidating its market position both in the Asian region and across the global metal decorating market.