The manufacturer said it needed to expand its UK team due to “an upturn in UK sales” over the past year, and because its busy order book in mainland Europe meant that resources could not be shared from the continent. 

Further additions to the team are also likely for next year. 

The new recruits are Xtronics technician Shoaib Rangooni, who has a background in high-tech industrial electronics; mechanical technician Kris Sanasy who joins from within the industry; and Ben Clark, also a mechanical technician, who previously worked as an engineer at the Daily Mail’s Thurrock and Portsmouth print plants.

Presses due for UK delivery next year include Rapida 106 and 106X models, and “several” VLF Rapida 145 packaging presses including the UK-first Rapida 145 bound for Offset Print & Packaging in Kent. 

Service director Peter Banks is helming the recruitment drive. He said the business already had double the usual number of new machine installations on its planner for H1 2023.

“Packaging, carton and corrugated have continued to be growth areas since before the pandemic and they show no indication of slowing any time soon,” Banks said.

“More than half of the installations scheduled for the first six months of next year fall into this category.”

Sales director Chris Scully told Printweek: “Packaging is getting more complex, as are the presses. All of our sales now are very much project-based, and one of our many value-adds is a partnership and project-based approach.

“We have a flurry of machines going in and it’s going to be a very, very busy new year.”

Koenig & Bauer (UK) had sales of £9.63m in its most recent accounts, for calendar year 2021 and employed 34 at the time.