Bobst has introduced new products in printing, converting, services and performance, aimed to help converters and brand owners taking a step towards the digitalisation of the packaging supply chain.

Bobst Group CEO Jean-Pascal Bobst said the packaging industry is in the midst of a digital revolution, which is forcing every company to innovate, challenge their approach, think end to end and digital, and leverage networks and platforms to deliver new business models for their clients.

“At Bobst, our Industry vision, based on four key pillars – connectivity, digitalisation, automation and sustainability – greatly supports this transformation,” he said.

“The new solutions announced today are the latest in a line of continuous innovation to help our customers thrive in this new reality all together.”  

Bobst Connect, which is at the heart of the company’s vision is a cloud-based platform developed to enhance and improve packaging productivity. Newly launched data-driven Tool Management offers new levels of control over TooLink equipped dies, integrating tool makers, tracking tool performance, feedback, maintenance and orders.  

The Recipe Management for AccuCheck allows users to remotely prepare and set up an inspection recipe based on the artwork file; save recipes and retrieve parameters offering the beginning of the close loop solution. 

This feature is already being used by Bobst customer in Italy – Prealpi, helping the company to improve setup times and quality control.  

Bobst has reinforced its automation and connectivity streams by acquiring 70 per cent of Dücker Robotics, one of the world leaders in the use of robots in loading and palletising in the corrugated board sector and the folding carton industry. 

Below are the other newly announced highlights from each industry sector. 

Flexible packaging:

• Vision K5 HS metalliser designed to handle a variety of film types, including heat sensitive, thin gauge and sustainable substrates. It features one of the largest coating drums in the industry at 700mm.
• Nova MW Laminator, due to be launched at the end of July, which is a compact laminating machine with an ergonomic and user-friendly design, designed for solventless lamination of all narrow web applications within the flexible packaging market.
• Vision CI for paper applications, due to be launched in Q4 2023, which is a flexo printing press serving the market for paper, with further capability for diameter and higher web tension. The machine can run 120g of paper at 400 metres per minute and includes Bobst’s Extended Colour Gamut (ECG) technology and SmartGPS to automate the start-up process.  

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• expanded die-cutting portfolio to fit every converter need. In addition to semi-rotary die-cutting, Bobst introduces Quick Change rotary die-cutting providing up to 50 per cent time saving to change magnetic cylinders. 
• Digital Master series update, which includes new features, such as Bobst Connect, third party integration and new AccuCheck functionalities. 
• Bobst digital printing technology has been officially Pantone validated
• New Bobst Sphere user interface for flexo and digital combining control of all flexo and digital processes in one single point.

Folding carton:

• Novafoil has gained new features and became the first in-line foil stamping machine from Bobst to offer an advanced cross-foiling option. Novafoil 106 with Hologram modules answers the demand for security packaging and brand protection onto the packaging of almost any product. OACS (Optimal Advance Computing System) calculates optimal foil advance – this feature is available both on the machine and now remotely too.  
• Digital Make Ready Tool is a new tool that projects the original digital layout, helping to connect pre-press with production. 
• New Expertfold, VisionFold and Novafold, announced earlier this year, equipped with a host of new features enhancing the three folder-gluers, increasing their productivity and moving closer towards the Bobst Industry Vision of a fully digitalised and connected converting process. 

Corrugated board:

• ExpertFlex combines the post-printing power with the die-cutting precision of the ExpertCut 1.7 I 2.1 flat-bed die-cutter. It forms a single, highly automated Expertline packaging production line.
• SpeedPack updates offer new strapping solutions delivering batches of boxes that are counted, stacked, banded and ready for palletisation. The new solutions increase its versatility, enabling the bundling of boxes with 5-15mm plastic straps commonly used in the corrugated board industry.  

Services:

• Bobst’s new logistic hub for Europe, Middle East and Africa, based in Belgium is now operational, providing access to increased transportation solutions.
• Bobst continues to provide 24/7 remote support to its customers, including video and new augmented reality support, remote connection to machine and data analysis. 

Environmental, social, and governance:  

• Bobst is deploying an active strategy on sustainability, one of the four key pillars of its vision. The company has joined the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi), reflecting its commitment to urgent climate action. Other key ESG-related activities include the ongoing development of recyclable substrates, the development of water-based inks, and the reduction of its machines’ electricity consumption by 10-20 per cent by the end of 2030.

“At Bobst, we pride ourselves on having a deep understanding of what our customers need, thanks to very close partnerships. These latest enhancements to our portfolio all resolve specific pain points that our customers have raised. And collectively, they take us closer to more automated, connected, digitalised and sustainable packaging production,” Bobst added.