Award-winning design on Johnnie Walker Bottles uses digital inkjet technology

Xaar’s digital inkjet technology is being used for Koenig & Bauer Kammann’s latest design collaboration that produced 5000 uniquely printed Johnnie Walker whisky bottles for Diageo.

Kammann, part of Koenig & Bauer Group, specialises in decorative printing machines for glass, plastic and metal containers and has partnered with Xaar for over a decade, using its inkjet technology.

In this latest collaboration, Kammann’s K15 decorative print machine was used to digitally print an image 180 mm in height, directly onto all four sides of each glass bottle in just three passes.

The limited-edition Johnnie Walker bottles showcase 50 original artworks by renowned pop artist Andy Gellenberg, which were further enhanced using generative AI to create a one-of-a-kind collection. With every bottle individually designed, the project highlights the power of digital print in enabling customisation at scale, and was recognised at the Digital Labels and Packaging awards, winning in the Supreme category earlier this year.

Central to the success of the project has been Xaar’s printhead technology, which enables the jetting of fluids with viscosities up to 1000 centipoise (cP) at ambient temperature (approximately 100 cP at jetting temperature).

These capabilities have allowed Marabu’s high-viscosity UV inks to be jetted at high temperatures to provide the required finish. The result is a striking, vibrant and tactile design that reflects the premium nature of the Johnnie Walker brand by Diageo.

Matthias Graf, Managing Director at Kammann, said: “By combining our machine expertise with the strengths of both Xaar and Marabu in printhead and ink technology, we’ve enabled an exceptional example of what’s possible with digital print for premium container decoration.”

Xaar’s Ultra High Viscosity Technology also supported more sustainable production for this project by reducing material use and the amount of energy required for curing.

Justin Noble, Director of Sales at Xaar, said: “We’re delighted that our printhead technology played such a key role in bringing this impressive collection to life.”