Mex, Switzerland - BOBST premieres the M6 Digital Flexo press at drupa 2016. With specific configurations for folding carton and flexible packaging production, the M6 offers high productivity and low running costs. 

Erik Bothorel, Head of BOBST Business Unit Web-fed says, "Digital Flexo is one of the most innovative printing technologies in our industry. It delivers "digital" flexibility in production and the lowest total cost of ownership. At drupa, BOBST has introduced specific features that make Digital Flexo perfect for the production of folding cartons and flexible packaging. It reinforces that we are leading innovation in technology designed for manufacturers in these industries."

Maurizio Trecate, Sales Director of the BOBST Inline Flexo Product Line, says, “The packaging industry is increasingly focused on total cost of ownership. Digital Flexo represents a revolutionary opportunity for packaging producers. In a few minutes they can carry out a complete job change-over with just a few meters of waste. This is unique. Digital Flexo produces packaging at high speeds, with low costs in both inks and maintenance. It is a flexible printing process, perfect for short and long runs. Folding carton and flexible packaging converters will get substantial advantages from this technology." 

Drupa 2016 is the venue for the world premiere of the M6 Digital Flexo in-line UV press, which features nine-color UV flexo printing and a 670mm web width. For the folding carton industry a new converting section with automatic de-curler and a final sheeter with high pile delivery is being shown in-line with the Digital Flexo printing units. For the flexible packaging industry new non-stop unwinders and rewinders are available in-line with the Digital Flexo units.

Also introduced by BOBST at drupa 2016 is the new UV-Track^TM technology for food packaging production, which confirms UV flexo technology as one of the safest printing processes. The exclusive UV Track^TM technology records the curing of each meter of printed substrate, making UV flexo fully compliant with the strict safety requirements of food packaging supply. 

Matteo Cardinotti, Head of BOBST In-line Flexo Product Line, says, “Folding carton converters are surprised by the total flexibility and high printing quality of the Digital Flexo process. And by using their existing BOBST sheet-fed converting equipment, they have no additional tooling costs. They can greatly reduce their running costs due to the lower waste with Digital Flexo and to the lower cost of purchasing reels of cartonboard instead of sheets, which can deliver a 5 to 10% saving. At the same time, flexible packaging converters are increasingly choosing UV flexo as their preferred printing method because of its consistency and its high printing quality. 

With Digital Flexo they gain unprecedented flexibility in their workflow, plus the lowest set-up times in the industry."

Every day of drupa 2016, the M6 Digital Flexo press will run three demonstrations dedicated to folding carton converters and three for flexible packaging converters. Each will show fully automatic job changeovers in less than one minute with just a few meters of waste.