Barberán: Driving the Future of Single Pass Digital Printing on Metal

At METPACK 2026, Barberán will present its latest innovations in Single Pass digital printing technology for metal at Hall 1, Stand 1E32. As a leading Spanish manufacturer of industrial printing machinery, Barberán continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in high-speed, high-quality digital decoration—particularly for demanding metal applications. Today, Barberán has more than 120 printers installed worldwide at customer sites, reflecting the company’s strong global presence and the proven reliability of its technology in industrial production environments.

The highlight of the exhibition will be NAUTILUS, a next-generation multi-substrate digital printer designed to deliver exceptional performance across a wide range of materials, including metal packaging and decorative surfaces. Combining outstanding resolution and robust industrial productivity, NAUTILUS has been engineered to meet the strict requirements of metal printing, where durability, precision, and efficiency are critical.

A key technological advantage lies in the integration of MASTER VISION, an advanced artificial vision inspection system. This system continuously monitors the printing process, automatically detecting and correcting any deviations to ensure consistent quality across the entire production run. When printing on metal—where surface uniformity and defect control are essential—this level of inspection becomes a decisive factor in achieving reliable results.

Barberán’s evolution from its proven JETMASTER platform, featuring G7-certified color control, to the advanced optimization capabilities of NAUTILUS demonstrates a clear commitment to production intelligence in industrial digital printing. This expertise is also supported by Barberán’s extensive experience in corrugated packaging, where many Single Pass lines are already operating successfully in production.

Beyond the technology itself, the real impact of Barberán’s solutions can be seen through its customers. A strong example is Ajusteel, a South Korean manufacturer specializing in PTM (Printed Tin Material) and PCM products used in home appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioning units, supplying major global brands including LG and Samsung.

Founded in 1995 and based in Gumi, South Korea, Ajusteel employs around 280 people and operates internationally, with additional facilities in Mexico and China. As demand for higher production volumes increased, the company began to face the limitations of its existing multi-pass digital printing systems, which offered relatively low productivity levels of 23 to 30 pieces per hour.

To overcome these constraints, Ajusteel turned to Barberán’s Single Pass technology. According to R&D Director Mr. Taeil Kim, the transition has significantly improved both productivity and print quality. “Compared to multi-pass printing, single-pass offers much higher productivity, and the print quality has been approved as excellent by our customers,” he explains. Samples submitted to leading clients such as LG and Samsung confirmed the high standards achieved.

The adoption of Single Pass technology is particularly relevant in a market where digitally printed steel is still emerging. Traditionally, laminated steel has dominated the sector, but the combination of higher productivity, consistent quality, and greater design flexibility is expected to accelerate the shift toward direct digital printing solutions.

Mr. Kim also highlights the importance of collaboration and training, noting the positive experience at Barberán’s facilities: “The training program was very well organized, and we learned a lot. We are very impressed with both the machine and the support provided.”

With solutions like NAUTILUS and successful implementations such as Ajusteel, Barberán is playing a key role in transforming how metal surfaces are decorated. At METPACK 2026, visitors will have the opportunity to experience firsthand how Single Pass digital printing is shaping the future of metal packaging and industrial applications.