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Koenig & Bauer Honours Chinese Packaging Pioneer as ‘High Performance Metal Decorator of the Year’ Live at METPACK 2026
Qingdao Beiqi sets new standards in safety and efficiency with the first 10-colour MetalStar 4
- Investment in a high-performance 10-colour printing lines for superior decoration requirements
- Integration of complex anti-counterfeiting features directly into the high-speed printing process
- Production according to strict international certifications (ISO/FSSC) at strategic locations in China and Europe
At this year's METPACK, the world's leading trade fair for metal packaging, Koenig & Bauer MetalPrint honoured the Chinese Beiqi Group with the ‘High Performance Metal Decorator of the Year’ award for its pioneering role in high-performance metal decoration. The focus of the tribute is a forward-looking major project: the commissioning of the world's first 10-colour MetalStar 4 as a complete UV line.
The year 2026 thus marks a significant chapter in the long-standing partnership between Koenig & Bauer MetalPrint and the Beiqi Group. With this investment, the Qingdao-based company sets a new global benchmark for complexity and efficiency. This high-end configuration allows for the production of highly sophisticated designs in a single pass, significantly reducing lead times while maximising output.
Innovation as a shield: Brand protection for premium goods
For Qingdao Beiqi, technology is more than just speed – it is about security. The investment in the 10-colour MetalStar 4 is strategically aimed at the premium food sector, specifically infant formula.
"With the expanded colour gamut and the ability to integrate multiple spot colours, we are providing our customers with an essential defense against product counterfeiting," says the management of Beiqi Group. "In the sensitive area of baby milk powder, security and quality are our highest priorities."
A legacy of growth and partnership
The award presented at METPACK 2026 highlights a decade of continuous technological evolution. Since its founding in 1998, Beiqi has consistently relied on Koenig & Bauer MetalPrint technology to scale its operations:
- 2014: Entry into high-performance printing with a 6-colour MetalStar 2
- 2017: Expansion of production capacities with a Mailänder 280
- 2021: Commissioning of the world’s only 10-colour MetalStar 3
- 2026: Invest in the world premiere of a 10-colour MetalStar 4 as a complete UV-line
About Qingdao Beiqi
Located in the Economic and Technological Development Zone of Qingdao, the Beiqi Group has evolved into a comprehensive packaging and printing powerhouse. With a total investment exceeding 600 million Yuan (equivalent to around 75 million euros) and a facility spanning over 160 acres, the group integrates paper product printing and metal food packaging. Beiqi’s vision is to remain an ecological and technological vanguard, supplying internationally renowned brands with sustainable, high-quality packaging solutions.
Technical snapshot: The MetalStar 4
The MetalStar 4 is the most modern metal decorating press on the market, offering:
- Fully automated job changeovers thanks to the intuitively operable ErgoTronic console
- Highest register accuracy even with maximum press speed
- Significantly reduced lead times
Simone Schwebsch
Marketing & Communications
+49 711 69971 847
Koenig & Bauer MetalPrint
Wernerstr. 119-129
70435 Stuttgart