#bobst

Miraclon and Bobst have reinforced their strategic partnership with Miraclon named as the plate technology partner in Bobst’s new Competence Center in Atlanta. The center is home to a Flexcel NX System and Flexcel NX Ultra Processing Solution to support Bobst’s goal to produce plates that maximize the performance of their presses.

Emma Weston, chief marketing officer, Miraclon, said, “We’ve been collaborating closely with Bobst since our partnership in Europe started more than eight years ago. Visitors to the Bobst Bielefeld Demo Center in Germany have been able to see Flexcel NX plates in action after we installed a Flexcel NX System in 2019. Our strategic relationship underscores both companies’ commitment to enabling our customers and partners to achieve their efficiency, sustainability and quality goals with some of the best technology and expertise in the industry.”

The Bobst Competence Center will be utilized by Miraclon for on-press demonstrations and print trials, giving printers and trade shops in North and South America the opportunity to see firsthand the on-press productivity and savings that Flexcel NX Technology offers. The Miraclon and Bobst partnership will likewise see the companies co-hosting industry events to promote how the technology enables efficient packaging printing.

Emilio Corti, region business director, Americas, at Bobst said, “Our longstanding partnership with Miraclon underpins our vision of shaping the future of the packaging world. With sustainability at the forefront of our customers` and brand owners’ minds, our partnership enables them to see how our collaboration maximizes their investment and helps to unlock new potential in the press room.”

Miraclon is the home of Flexcel Solutions, which has helped transform flexographic printing for more than a decade. The technology, including the industry-leading Flexcel NX and Flexcel NX Ultra Systems, and Flexcel NX Print Suite that enables PureFlexo Printing, maximizes on-press efficiency, delivers higher quality and overall best-in-class results.

Bobst has announced its latest advancements across all industry segments – flexible packaging, labels, folding carton, corrugated board, and services – to help its customers to thrive in the current and future packaging environment. 

At drupa 2024, visitors will have the opportunity to find out how Bobst is bringing its vision to reality through a live-show experience on a 'concept machine'. Through key solutions along the end-to-end production process, Bobst’s industry storylines will be featured, the company said.

“We have made great progress with our vision to shape the future of the packaging world based on the pillars of connectivity, digitalization, automation, and sustainability,” said Jean-Pascal Bobst, CEO, Bobst Group. “Now, with an extensive portfolio of solutions that answer our clients’ needs, we can tailor our offering to them based on their evolving requirements over the years to come. Our latest solutions announced today, embed machines and software with the aim to increase performance, complementing our global offering beyond machine operation, helping us all to build towards a more connected and sustainable future.”

Bobst Connect

Bobst has announced the launch of two major new features for Bobst Connect, the company’s cloud-based digital platform. Workflow with Job and Recipe Management empowers customers to seamlessly integrate Bobst machines in their production and design workflows and benefit from bi-directional job and recipe data synchronization for fast set up and increased productivity. The Energy Monitoring feature allows customers to measure their energy consumption and costs in real time. 

Reinforcing its credentials as a strategic partner, the company has also announced to develop Bobst Application Management across the four industries, a hands-on innovative consulting service focusing on workflow automation, color and process optimization, end-to-end converting improvements as well as regulatory compliance, addressing the needs of converters and brand owners.

Meanwhile, Bobst’s commitment to sustainability – both for its own operations and helping its customers to achieve their sustainability goals – is reflected across multiple streams and in all the new solutions announced today. The company has stated that all new machines purchased in 2024 will benefit from at least between 10% and 20% efficiency and productivity improvements, from reductions in waste, substrate, and energy usage.

The newly announced highlights from each industry sector. Several of these will be officially launched at drupa 2024.

Flexible packaging

In the flexible packaging industry, Bobst says it can help customers to innovate for a sustainable future.

New machine with new elements of digitalization and automation: smartGRAVURE revolutionizes the gravure printing process with elements of automation and digitalization. This innovation will help to overcome the important set-up time and tuning required with gravure printing, which require high level operator skills. With automated color management, digitalized set up and controls, and connectivity with Bobst Connect, smartGRAVURE will increase productivity and output consistency, reduce downtime and complexity, and offer considerable sustainability benefits.

New Bobst intelligent Metallizing Assistant : The Bobst AI driven intelligent Metallizing Assistant represents a breakthrough in machine integrated process expertise for vacuum metallizing. Bobst intelligent Metallizing Assistant supports the machine operator by automating the deposition process, resulting in more output and consistency of the end product, and ensuring that customers always have the best operator on their machine.

New machine with new elements of digitalization: EXPERTLAM 900 is a multi-technology coater and laminator, which is configurable in different forms, making it highly flexible both as both a laminator and a coater.

Labels

In the labels industry, Bobst can help customers to simplify label production.

Closed loop workflow from PDF to TWIN PDF: Bobst is providing new solutions supporting closed-loop workflow ecosystem from pdf to twin pdf to boost productivity, ease of use and sustainability. The features will allow label converters to accelerate job preparation, with faster job completion less dependent on operator skills, and with a more connected production floor, thanks to a range of new Bobst Connect and pre-press features. More details will be announced at drupa 2024!

OneECG – advanced color consistency between flexo and digital: Bobst has optimized its workflow leveraging oneECG, enabling digitalization of color information to reach the highest color consistency between digital and flexo. Customers can easily allocate orders to the most suitable technology, optimizing machine utilization and profitability while reducing waste and increasing overall output.

oneBarrier / FibreCycle on UV in-line flexo presses: Following the success of the oneBARRIER sustainable solutions developed by Bobst together with industry leading partners and first introduced on Bobst wide-web machines, converters with UV-based inline flexo machines can now experience all the benefits of oneBarrier substrates – dedicated to the production of high-barrier and recyclable applications – on narrow-mid-web solutions. 

Folding carton

In the folding carton industry, Bobst says it is empowering zero fault packaging.

New machine with new elements of digitalization: EXPERTCUT 106 PER: New generation die-cutter, which increases performance up to 20% with increased throughput and positive sustainability impact. The EXPERTCUT 106 comes equipped with breakthrough new functions such as the ACCUPLATEN - a new system that will drastically reduce the patching effort during setting and increased running speed.

TooLink on folder-gluers: TooLink brings converting into the digital world. It is a platform that connects machines and tooling and brings together the entire converting process to transform production flexibility, job turnaround times, and overall productivity. Soon available on folder-gluers, TooLink will simplify and shorten the changeover by automating recipe management. In addition, it will check the quality of tools and ensure the quality of production.

Corrugated board

In the corrugated board industry, Bobst can help customers to boost end-to-end efficiency.

Robotic solutions: Bobst now offers a wide range of robotic solutions for both loading and palletizing, which will allow configuration of complete and seamless production lines for customers.

New machine:  FFG (flexo folder gluer) portfolio Exrension – machines with what matters for RSC (regular slotted carton) converting: Printing (1/2 colors) and die-cutting with flexibility in production, robust design and short set-up time with top printer. New JUMBO, from simple “printer-slotter” up to full line including stitching, taping and inline folder-gluer.

New machine with new elements of digitalization and automation: Masterflex HD+: New generation of the reference flexo printer, for unmatched productivity and highest quality. By incorporating a new feeder, upstream pre-feeder and stacker outlet, the Masterflex HD+ achieves a staggering throughput of 15,000 sheets per hour, covering an impressive area of 53 million square meters per year. This enhancement results in a remarkable 8% boost in productivity.

“Speaking of Industry 4.0, with its focus on automation and data exchange in the manufacturing industry, Bobst has made significant strides toward achieving its vision of shaping the future of the packaging world. At drupa, visitors to the Bobst stand will witness our cutting-edge technology, which is instrumental in realizing this vision. This includes a digital-age manufacturing process, data exchange, and our new applications that address a sustainable approach to processing substrates. Additionally, our advancements in automation and energy conservation are complemented by our new service offerings,” said Venugopal Menon, Zone Business director, Printing & Converting, Folding Carton & Corrugated Board – Indian Sub Continent, Bobst.

Services and Performance

Bobst offers a wide range of services and digital solutions to power performance with expertise and digitalization. New additions include:

The new, updated Bobst Connect: Providing digital solutions to prepare, produce, react to, maintain, and optimize the production workflow of a job. Bobst Connect is a one-stop shop for increasing productivity capability at every stage.

Extended capacity of the EMEA Logistics Hub: Its Genk facility helps serve customers with speed and efficiency. It is extending its capacity by more than 60% this year to increase customer reach, increase service quality, while ensuring the site meets the highest sustainability certifications.

Remote assistance with TeamViewer: The remote assistance service, which includes video with augmented reality support using TeamViewer, allows fast, high-priority remote resolution of electrical and mechanical problems, and reduced downtime. The feature now includes live caption and chat translation.

Operational excellence program: Through the Operational Excellence program, customers get support to drive continuous improvements with combined data analysis, process expertise and proven consultancy.

El país helvètic, similar a Catalunya en població i extensió, és el més innovador del món i busca trencar certs estigmes relacionats amb l’economia iStock Tot i ser un país petit que es troba al cor d’Europa, Suïssa és una de les nacions que provoquen més desconcert als catalans. Suïssa és un país excessivament car, en què es paguen salaris altament competitius, és líder en innovació, se…

Leveraging proven flexo experience and recent innovative inkjet developments, Bobst is enhancing its All-in-One, All-Inline portfolio with the new 'Digital Master' series. The Digital Master 340 and Digital Master 510 will change the way label production is set up. They provide a fully digitalized and automated production line, from printing to embellishment and cutting. The Digital Master series is based on a fully modular and upgradeable architecture, enabling customers to build their own press and evolve it over time.

“Developments in label production are moving at pace with brand owners looking for converters that have the ability to deliver faster, better and at more competitive prices. In this context, the Bobst all-in-one platform is a great answer as digitally printed labels can be produced in high quality, with exceptional productivity and at lower costs, from short to long runs,” said Strategic Marketing manager, Patrick Graber.

“With the Digital Master series, we want to solve our customers’ challenges as they try to overcome the lack of skilled workforce while moving to industrial productivity and longer run lengths with digital equipment, and to bring more agility and flexibility to the production floor.”

The Digital Master series will be available in 340 mm (13.5 inches) and 510 mm (20 inches) print widths in a new design that has been optimized for full modularity and improved operation and servicing. Like the Master DM5, it offers printing, embellishment, and cutting in a single pass, with seamless native integration between the UV inkjet digital engine and the flexo and converting modules. The introduction of a 510 mm version adds new opportunities to expand application versatility into larger-sized labels, industrial and chemical markets, wraparound, shrink sleeves, and other special applications. The Digital Master 510 provides higher production volume but still only needs one operator to run the press.

Running at up to 100 m/min (328 ft/min) in four or six colours plus optional digital white, the Digital Master series presses to bridge the gap between traditional digital and flexo machines. The line-up stands for flexibility, fast turnaround, and inline end-to-end label production, with exceptional quality and productivity in increasing run lengths. The modular architecture allows customers to configure the exact machine they need – from a digital-only version to highly customized configuration – integrating all modules available in inline flexo. It also provides the possibility to be upgraded on-site at a later stage.

“The Digital Master series is an extremely future-proof solution because customers can adapt the machine over time to changing application needs and new market trends,” said Graber. “And when new technologies for these platforms are released, they can be retrofitted on site, adding even more value and protecting the investment.”

Flexo modules can be included for priming demanding substrates, high-ink coverage jobs for long print runs to save on digital ink, applications with high white coverage, or for printing Pantone colors. Available embellishment features include varnishing, tactile and holographic effects, cold foil glue applied, UV lamination, and security printing. For end-to-end label production, fully automated semi-rotary die-cutting or rotary die-cutting is ready for integration.

Each print, embellishment and finishing module is digitally automated for exceptionally high uptime, low waste, and outstanding repeatability regardless of the operator’s skills. Quality control is guaranteed by the inclusion of Bobst Accucheck for 100% inline inspection at full speed. This proven technology checks registration, quality, and colour consistency of digital and flexo print and all embellishments to ensure fault-free production.

Bobst maintenance automation device on the digital printing unit is also included on all machines for highest productivity and quality requirements, while 1000 mm (39 inches) jumbo unwinders and rewinders with automated roll-lifting system reduce the number of roll changes, saving time and efforts. A single user-friendly interface controls the whole machine, which can be connected to the cloud and is open for MIS integration.