COUNTDOWN TO DRUPA: BOBST

Packaging technology giant Bobst will launch a new “all-in-one” folding carton press, and a new digital corrugated press at the big show next month, as its CEO called on the industry to promote a “packaging is good” message.

CEO Jean-Pascal Bobst said, “We need to get the message across that packaging is good for humanity, and that the industry is transforming itself. Let's join forces to communicate with influencers and politicians.”

Bobst is keeping mum on its new digital corrugated press, only revealing its intentions after Print21 raised the possibility with the CEO at the international press conference, with Bobst saying that all will be on show at drupa.

CEO Bobst said, “TCO is the main challenge with digital corrugated, but the rise of ecommerce is driving development, it has dramatically shifted where we thought digital corrugated would add value.”

Bobst’s new digital corrugated press will be reel to sheet, with a new water based ink.

Details on what Bobst calls its all-in-one folding carton press will also be revealed at the show itself, with Bobst only saying it will be a board to blank solution.

Bobst said its corrugated, flexibles, folding carton and labels technology is all connected through its cloud-based Bobst Connect, which has two new features; Job Recipe Management, which has bi-directional job and recipe data synchronisation for fast set up and increased productivity, and Energy Monitoring, which allows printers to measure their energy consumption and costs in real time.

The company will also launch its Masterflex HD+ flexo press, capable of producing 53 million square metres of print a year, running at 15,000sph.

A new FFG (flexo folder gluer) Extension will be unveiled at drupa, capable of RSC (regular slotted carton) converting, printing one or two colours, and die-cutting. A new Jumbo option enables upgrading from simple printer-slotter up to full line including stitching, taping and inline folder-gluer.

Bobst is launching what it says is zero fault packaging with ​Expertcut 106 PER, the new generation die-cutter, which it says increases performance up to 20 per cent. It comes equipped with new functions such as the Accuplaten – a new system that Bobst claims will drastically reduce the patching effort during setting.