Bobst Italia SpA in San Giorgio Monferrato, Italy, hosted a grand event on 2 October 2020 to mark the completion of an ambitious renovation project that was first started in 2016. 

Carried out in three successive stages, the project has completely overhauled the company’s buildings and organization, making it one of BOBST’s most modern manufacturing hubs. The renovation and extension of the production facility includes a state-of-the-art Competence Center for machine demonstrations and R&D trials, and an adjoining fully-equipped laboratory.

Strictly adhering to current safety and social distancing directives for COVID-19, the event was attended by the management of Bobst Group and Bobst Italia, local and central authorities, members of the press and Bobst Italia’s personnel for the ribbon cutting ceremony and a tour of the facility.

“The complete renovation and extension of the production facility are the most impressive and visible aspects, but the transformation goes much deeper than the refurbishment,” explained Davide Garavaglia, Managing Director of Bobst Italia. “It modernizes the organizational flow of the production, logistics and traffic inside and outside the company’s grounds, and it improves the layout of all the solutions on the shop floor. It is now a state-of-the-art site, which maximizes efficiencies with energy and water to reduce environmental impact, and optimizes the working environment in terms of health and safety.”

The site in San Giorgio Monferrato has been operational as a manufacturing hub developing printing and converting machines for the flexible packaging industry since 1960, when it was established by Rotomec SpA. The Finnish Group Valmet Converting bought the site in 1987. Valmet Converting was then acquired by BOBST in 2004 as part of the company’s strategy to significantly extend and diversify its folding carton and corrugated board packaging operations into the flexible packaging market. Soon afterwards, the site became the Group’s Center of Excellence for gravure printing, coating and laminating technologies.

Over the course of 16 years, Bobst Italia has continued to consolidate its position as a leading supplier of innovative equipment and process solutions that meet the needs of the flexible packaging markets it serves. Even during recent years of global uncertainty, the company has recorded stable results and maintained profitability.

“It is fitting that the inauguration of the new site coincides with the 60th anniversary of the foundation of Bobst Italia,” said Jean-Pascal Bobst, CEO of Bobst Group “The story of Bobst Italia is a story of enduring success. I would like to pay tribute to Bobst Italia’s personnel for their unfailing commitment to quality, which ensures that all the BOBST products and services developed at the site come with the BOBST guaranteed mark of excellence”.

“The investment in the San Giorgio site demonstrates the trust that the Group has put in us and enables us to renew our commitment to the flexible packaging industry to continue producing the highest quality products and services. We are very excited for the future of our company, our customers, our employees and our Monferrato region,” concluded Davide Garavaglia.