BOBST– Well Positioned for a Year of Innovation

At a press conference ahead of IPEX 2010, Bobst Group CEO Jean-Pascal Bobst detailed the moves Bobst Group has made in response to changes in world markets, and revealed plans for a large number of product launches in 2010. It was announced that, in parallel with exhibiting at IPEX 2010, BOBST will run live machine demonstrations at two locations, one dedicated to commercial print and one to packaging manufacture. Dates were announced for the first ever joint corrugated and folding carton industries BOBST COMPETENCE event later in the year.

“People and knowledge are the keys to the ongoing success of Bobst Group, and will continue to differentiate us from other players in the market in the future. We plan to continue our strong focus on R&D and innovation, and our new Business Unit Sheet-fed will launch a large number of new products in 2010 which will give our customers the performance and quality advances they need,” said Jean-Pascal Bobst, CEO of Bobst Group.

Mr Bobst reviewed trends in the markets during 2009 and explained that Q3 and Q4 of 2009 showed some very positive signs. “Our response to the global downturn has been, externally, to actively support our customers’ needs in these difficult times and, internally, to launch a Group Transformation Project to further increase customer satisfaction, broaden market coverage, extend our sales and service coverage, and gain CHF 100 million in savings by 2011,” said Mr Bobst.

The Group Transformation Program has been designed to deliver operational excellence through improved synergies; will define opportunities for organic growth, and will ensure effective organization. “With this and our strong equity situation, Bobst Group will emerge stronger from the global crisis,” said Mr Bobst.

The new Bobst Group Business Unit Sheet-fed now serves clients in the folding carton and corrugated packaging industries as well as in commercial print, and encompasses the BOBST, ASITRADE and MARTIN brands. The focus of this business unit is on offering the best technical solution for each customer’s needs, strong customer intimacy, and long term business sustainability.

Several new product launches from this business unit will take place during 2010. Already available are the VISIONFOIL104H hot foil stamper, designed with brand and product protection using holograms in mind, and the iQ 300 100% quality control system for corrugated post-printers.

Further launches in 2010 will include an innovation for easier compliance with EU Braille embossing regulations; a new hot foil stamping machine featuring a 20% increase in productivity and including over 20 new patented technologies; a new development that increases the speed of bottle carrier packaging production by 20%; a new flexo printing press to challenge the quality and consistency of offset printing; new mid range diecutting and folding-gluing machines bringing superior quality, accuracy and reliability to their class; a large format folder-gluer with automatic packing for corrugated and litho-laminated packaging; and a new ASITRADE product offering the ‘next generation’ of in-line laminating.

The newly established Business Unit Services will help Bobst Group customers increase their productivity and lower their cost of ownership by establishing ten dedicated BOBST Service Centers worldwide; with dedicated spare parts stocks in the Americas, Europe, and Asia; an increased portfolio of services, parts, and consumables; and a faster response time and easier access to BOBST Services.

At IPEX 2010 the Bobst Group stand will feature a virtual BOBST machine experience and the event will present the opportunity for commercial printers and packaging manufacturers to talk to Bobst specialists who can advise on every aspect of hot foil stamping, die cutting, embossing, and folding & gluing. Live demonstrations will be held throughout IPEX 2010 at two nearby venues – a packaging experience at Printing & Packaging Co. Ltd in Hinckley, Leics., will feature an EXPERTCUT 106 PER diecutter and a MASTERFOLD 110 A-3; while a commercial print experience at Bobst’s UK training centre in Redditch, Worcs., will feature a COMMERCIAL 106 diecutter and a VISIONFOLD 110 A-2 folder-gluer.

Dates were announced for the first joint folding carton and corrugated board industry BOBST COMPETENCE event, which will be held between 22nd and 28th September 2010 at BOBST’s headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland. BOBST COMPETENCE'10 will give packaging manufacturers from around the world the opportunity to explore the BOBST solutions available for improving manufacturing performance, reducing waste and ensuring product quality that meets brand owner standards.