Bobst Gives the Folding Carton Industry a Boost with its Customized Technology

LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND—06/26/08—The initial conclusions drawn by Bobst Group coming out of Drupa are extremely positive, just as they were in 2004 following the introduction of numerous world firsts. After a record year in 2007, which stood out for its excellent profitability, Bobst Group has demonstrated that it is very well prepared for the coming years with its innovations, machine design, and new Bobst branding. Spread over some 1,200 m2 of stand space, each of the machines on show at Drupa were run in production with a running commentary several times a day. More than 5000 visitors representing about 2300 different enterprises and 108 countries throughout Europe, Africa, the Americas, Asia, and South East Asia, as well as from Oceania, showed considerable interest in the products being exhibited on the Group’s stand.

“The next generation” of folding carton: four levels of technology.

With a new, modern look, the Bobst brand of production machinery now has enhanced ergonomics, while at the same time showing greater respect for the environment. Of course, innovation and the creation of new functionalities, are among the duties of a world leader, and covering four levels of production – NOVA, VISION, EXPERT and MASTER – “The next generation” products demonstrate that Bobst continues to provide answers to the needs of the industry in terms of speed, operating environment (ergonomics, noise, power consumption), and interactivity (connectivity) with total productivity as the final aim.

“The next generation” of Bobst platen presses.

Among the many strengths of the machines shown in production, the following stand out:

- VISIONCUT 106 LE: a new level of technology in the range, featuring “Smart Feeder” and a side register system which is unique in this price range, and delivers high-quality sheet feeding at high speeds (9,000 s/h);

- EXPERTCUT 106 PER: with the new Power Register II to cut production stoppages by 75%; its cutto-print register accuracy is without equal, leaving the operator free to focus attention on the quality of the finished product;

- MASTERCUT 145 PER: also featuring the new Power Register II, with optional bottom print reading which obviates the need to invert a bundle of litho-laminated board to die-cut it, thus improving the quality of the finished carton.

Revolutionary and patented by Bobst, Power Register enables the sheet to be aligned without edge contact before it enters the in-feed thus ensuring unmatched cut-to-print accuracy. Regardless of whether the printed side is top or bottom, Power Register II works with two or three cameras for leading edge, side and bottom optical sensing of the sheet.

The EXPERTFOIL 104 FR and its amazing foil-to-print register system to apply foil, holograms and embossing at a production rate of 8,000 s/h was demonstrated on the KURZ stand.

“The next generation” of Bobst folder-gluers.

The following stand out among the many strengths of the folder-gluers shown at Drupa:

- EXPERTFOLD 110: 11% faster than the previous generation and quieter too; the machine on show was fitted with the revolutionary Accubraille module to emboss Braille, and the Plasmatreat unit to improve adhesion and enable conventional glue to be used on plastic, metallized, litho-laminated, or varnished cartons;

- MASTERFOLD 75: the fastest (700 m/min), the most productive, and the most versatile machine in the world; it is also 50% quieter than the previous generation; its feeder set-up is reduced by three quarters thanks to its patented blank alignment module, and with 98% of tools staying permanently on the machine, job change-over time is extremely short.

“The next generation” of Bobst jobbing platen presses.

Following the success of the Commercial 106 throughout the world – with over 75 machines sold – Bobst has decided to add to its range of die-cutting presses for jobbing print houses with the Commercial 76. Its standard equipment, incredible compactness, and ease of operation have impressed printers seeking a simple means of replacing their small cylinder presses. A section of the stand was fully dedicated to Bobst’s ‘Commercial Solutions’.

“The next generation” of Bobst interfaces.

The machines on show also boasted the latest generation control systems, featuring C.U.B.E.3With its color touch screen, this is the brain of Bobst machines, offering operators even more intuitive navigation, alongside features such as preventive maintenance aids like “Think Clean”. Its version for folder-gluers even features a USB port.

Connectivity is playing an ever increasing part in rationalizing procedures. Being grouped together as ‘HIGHWAY’, Bobst’s View, Vista and Connect systems ensure total compatibility between Bobst equipment and MIS or ERP management systems. Moreover, Connect is the only fully JDF compatible system in the converting industry.

Furthermore… Bobst offers two, quality, web-fed lines incorporating gravure printing and die-cutting in its LEMANIC DELTA and RIVIERA. The LEMANIC RIVIERA has become the benchmark for printing cigarette packaging, while the LEMANIC DELTA is suitable for medium length runs and is aimed at generalist manufacturers. An alternative to sheet-fed offset, it offers flexibility in gravure printing and is capable of in-line embossing. Registron iQ300, the latest generation of systems for 100% quality inspection in line, was also being shown.

In the litho-laminated microflute sector, ASITRADE demonstrated its Foliostar (sheet-to-sheet litholaminator) and its new GAPRO4+ (reduced glue usage) gluing unit, while Bobst was promoting its MASTERCUT 1.7/2.1 flatbed die-cutters fitted with Power Register.

In the service area, Bobst and ASITRADE customers can now view, search for, find, and order their spare parts using multilingual interfaces, illustrations, and technical specifications using Bobst’s e-Shop “Parts View”.

This Drupa was also an opportunity for Bobst to demonstrate the quality of the relationships it is developing with its prime partners in order to provide its customers with an ever-improving portfolio of custom designed products.

To sum up, Drupa 08 enabled Bobst to establish without a shadow of a doubt that the objectives the brand set itself in relation to the environment and productivity have attracted huge interest and recognition by the many visitors to the Bobst stand.