With over 350 employees dedicated to narrow-mid web printing and converting, BOBST is continuing to advance its vision for the future of labels and flexible packaging production, centered on connectivity, digitalization, automation and sustainability.

With a growing installed base of over 1300 narrow-mid web presses, the company has expanded its demonstration capabilities and global footprint in this segment with a new state-of-the-art Competence Center in Florence, Italy.

Following the successful establishment of the Atlanta Competence Center in the US, BOBST has opened a brand-new 1200 sqm Competence Center dedicated to labels and flexible packaging, located in Florence. Providing access to the company’s full range of printing solutions with six complete production lines (including inline flexo, digital and All-in-One technologies), the new Italian BOBST facility is designed to serve customers through proximity and local expertise, as well as being a hub for collaboration and innovation.

During 8–10 October, more than 200 customers attended the Grand Opening of the new Competence Center in Florence. They witnessed a complete overview of BOBST’s value proposition for the narrow-mid web market, including pre-press, machinery, technology area, the cloud-based digital platform BOBST Connect and final applications. The event was supported by leading industry partners representing the whole ecosystem across the value chain.

“The major investment in the Narrow-Mid Web Printing & Converting Product Line demonstrates Bobst Group’s strong commitment to this segment,” stated Matteo Cardinotti, Head of Narrow Mid-Web Printing & Converting Product Line. BOBST has experienced exceptional growth in labels in recent years and we are supporting that development by opening more local Competence Centers and hiring more staff worldwide. In Italy specifically, we have also expanded our production facilities and reinforced our service organization to match the needs of our European customers.”

Connected end-to-end solutions for labels and flexible packaging
As seen at drupa and Labelexpo Americas 2024, the industry is moving beyond innovation in hardware and software in isolation towards full integration of processes. In this respect, BOBST is leading the way with its portfolio of complete workflows designed for the future of packaging production.

At the event in Florence, guests could experience live demonstrations of the entire ‘Label Solutions by BOBST’ portfolio. BOBST’s All-in-One concept, with inkjet and flexo technology inline, was presented by the DIGITAL MASTER 340 press running pressure-sensitive labels for the beauty segment. For inline flexo, BOBST MASTER M5 demonstrated single-pass production of multi-layer labels featuring oneECG (extended color gamut) technology and DigiFlexo automation.

The production lines on show included a complete solution for short to medium-run flexible packaging applications – a BOBST MASTER M6 flexo press perfectly integrated with a near-line mid-web laminator, the BOBST NOVALAM MV. This setup, in combination with oneECG printing and DigiFlexo technology, is the perfect solution for flexo converters wanting to produce short to medium run flexible packaging and shrink sleeves; a segment that is not profitably using digital technology. All presses demonstrated live were operating with direct integration to BOBST Connect, the advanced digital platform that offers next-level automation, digitalization and connectivity to support sustainable, efficient and profitable production.

Closing the loop with connected workflows
As a central data center, BOBST Connect seamlessly integrates every aspect of the workflow, from application management and pre-press setup to printing, converting, and quality control, collecting the production data. The ability to capture these valuable insights allows converters to enhance their business planning and optimize the entire production process. The platform is continually evolving with more functionalities added, such as the new BOBST Certified substrate library, job quality reports, and ‘Job and Recipe Management’, which deliver significant cost and waste savings by streamlining machine integration and enabling faster setup.

“BOBST has brought into reality the idea of the closed-loop workflow, from PDF to twin-PDF concept, addressing the main industry trends with easy-to-use machines, all orchestrated by BOBST Connect,” commented Cardinotti. “Our main focus is to provide customers with complete workflows that help them overcome a multitude of market challenges, allowing them to deliver consistent and high-quality results much quicker and with low waste, without having to rely on highly skilled operators.”

Color consistency across technologies and applications
Another crucial issue addressed at the event was how to maintain color consistency across different types of technologies, applications and over time. Beyond labels, converters are also leveraging BOBST inline flexo technology to produce a range of short-run flexible packaging applications, such as pouches, shrink sleeves and flow wraps. With such a highly complex market, it is a great challenge for converters to maintain the consistency of brand colors from job to job.

During the event, BOBST, together with its network of partners, demonstrated how oneECG guarantees cross-compatibility for production floor optimization by digitalizing color management. By standardizing the colors on press and automating the color matching process – moving it from the pressroom into pre-press – machine operator skills will impact the outcome much less.

The benefits of oneECG printing on inline flexo presses also include savings on ink and plate costs, substrate waste reduction, faster setup, and a reduction in cleaning time and related consumables. Crucially, it allows shorter job runs to be printed more profitably, meaning converters can expand into flexible packaging, as demonstrated at the event with the MASTER M6.

ONE partner offering across all technologies and processes, from printing to converting
Guests could also experience the benefits of one global and extensive worldwide service organization dedicated to support them with a wide range of services enhancing productivity and overall machine efficiency, from connected services (remote support) for fast resolution of problems to production ramp up support on-site.

Adding value through industry partnerships
BOBST is not operating alone in shaping the future of packaging production but rather is collaborating with key suppliers to bring maximum value to customers. The event reinforced BOBST’s ecosystem of industry partnerships with the presence of Esko, Kurz, Avery Dennison, Sun Chemical, Kongsberg PCS, DuPont, and Lohmann.

“The new Labels & Flexible Packaging Competence Center provides the ideal scenario for printers and brand owners to fully understand BOBST’s vision for the future of packaging production. Guests at the Grand Opening experienced our comprehensive portfolio of printing solutions in action and saw how our innovations and partnerships are shaping developments, while discovering how to boost and simplify their label production,” concluded Cardinotti.