Award for Printed Product Protection: Koenig & Bauer Wins Stationers’ Innovation Excellence Award 2026

Drawing on more than 200 years of experience in the printing industry and a long-standing role as a technology partner to central banks, Koenig & Bauer brings sovereign-level security standards directly to everyday products and packaging. The award-winning ecosystem unites cutting-edge protection technology with digital verification:

• Invisible data within the printed image (Stegano): Using Stegano technology, data sets are discreetly embedded into virtually any printed product. For instance, the varnish-based security solution aegis embeds concealed information directly into the varnish coating, enabling seamless batch-level traceability – without altering product design or disrupting existing production workflows. Furthermore, a single coating plate can be used across various customers and print jobs.
• Optical identification via material structures (Ovjera): Every physical item has a unique individuality defined by microscopic patterns and material variations (e.g. in paper, board, wood, or metal). Ovjera technology captures these surface textures optically (“Entropy Essence”) and assigns each object an exact identity that functions just like an invisible serial number.
• Analysis of the characteristic production fingerprint (Daktylo): Daktylo captures the specific characteristics of the manufacturing process – such as press configurations, the optical properties of printing inks, and finishing techniques (e.g. hot foil stamping). This makes it possible to reliably verify whether an item was genuinely manufactured using legitimate print technology.
• Seamless authentication via app: Through the cross-platform smartphone application ‘a verification app – ava’, brand owners, logistics partners, and consumers gain centralised access to all three technology families. A straightforward scan of the product or packaging is all it takes to confirm authenticity, integrity, and provenance within seconds.
   

“We are exceptionally proud of this recognition from the Stationers’ Company. It reinforces our conviction that true innovation fosters trust. For decades, we have protected currencies worldwide – now, with 'protected at print', we are extending this expertise to consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, and premium products. We are democratising protection and verification. On top of that we are equipping both brands and consumers with a simple, dependable tool,” explains Julian Schubert, CEO of Koenig & Bauer Vision & Protection.

The award-winning protection concept delivers lasting benefits for all stakeholders along the value chain:

• Printing companies can expand their service portfolio and evolve from standard packaging printers into certified security partners via the cp³ initiative (Certified Protected Print Provider) – all without requiring additional capital expenditure on specialised machinery.
• Brand owners benefit directly from robust, covert anti-counterfeiting measures that safeguard against grey markets and provide end-to-end traceability down to batch level, without compromising on design.
• End consumers can rely on the highest levels of protection when purchasing sensitive goods such as pharmaceuticals, infant formula, food, and cosmetics.

Confidence in physical products is bolstered through the application of technologies from the “protected at print” initiative, as counterfeit risks are effectively mitigated before goods leave the printing company. The varnish protection solution aegis was brought to market in September 2025 and expanded in February 2026 with the introduction of the cp³ certification programme. Certified partners are already operating across the United Kingdom, Italy, India, the United States, and Mexico.