BOBST focused on excellence in substrate functionality and process performance – in particular spotlighting the unique know-how of its dedicated team of process specialists, aptly named Solution Masters. The company demonstrated the new K5 EXPERT vacuum metalliser.
While the BOBST stand at K 2016 welcomed a continuous flow of visitors, including delegates from over 60 countries worldwide, BOBST Competence Centres across Europe put on machine demonstrations. In the UK, BOBST Manchester premiered the K5 EXPERT, the world’s highest productivity vacuum metalliser for packaging applications. Equipped with features that are unique, innovative and new to the industry, such as Automatic Sequential Control (ASC), the K5 EXPERT also incorporates other well-known BOBST waste-reducing technical solutions to deliver a total cost of ownership (TCO) that is 25% less than that of other vacuum metallisers on the market. BOBST also used the Manchester events to present its new AluBond® process, which provides high metal adhesion and surface energy levels.
BOBST Solution Masters, who are specialists in vacuum web coating and metallising, coating, extrusion coating, laminating, CI or inline flexo printing, or gravure printing, were on-hand during every day of K 2016 to assist visitors interested in exploring their options within these processes. Extensively trained and developed over many years, the Solution Masters reflect the BOBST commitment to providing world-leading support both to customers and prospective customers, across all of its product ranges. As well as ‘picking the brains’ of BOBST Solution Masters, visitors to the stand particularly appreciated the flawless quality of the reels of printed and converted samples displayed on the stand – which also reflected a growing market interest in high barrier functionality for packaging substrates, machinability, sustainability, and ways of exploiting new applications.
Further samples on display at the show reflected the BOBST collaboration with leading suppliers to the film industry – especially with a view to assisting converters facing process performance challenges. One such was a new, fully integrated, process for the conversion of high barrier AlOx coated films. Developed by BOBST this process not only protects AlOx films produced on BOBST vacuum metallisers, but also provides additional barrier functionalities while keeping other barrier properties unaltered, even during the more complex conversion processes required by some flexible packaging applications. Another example, a full PE laminate sample, showed the ability of BOBST gravure printing and laminating machines to process MDO (Machine Direction Oriented) films at high speed. In particular, this showed the web handling performance of BOBST gravure presses in printing onto thin PE-based films and highlighted the opportunities for BOBST customers to extend their gravure operations to include PE packaging applications.
At BOBST Italia, in S. Giorgio Monferrato, demonstrations were carried out using two new BOBST gravure printing presses. The RS 6003C HS is a high speed line that offers a wide range of printing and converting options through dedicated configurations. The RS 6002C line is a shaftless press that provides ‘best-in-class’ print quality and features, as standard, the integration of electronic shaft and BOBST Registron® register control, along with the TAPS system for automatic pre-register setting at the touch of a button. For lamination, the new CL 750D compact laminator and CL 850D laminator showed the operational efficiency and product quality which make them the best choice for converters in their respective classes of equipment.
The BOBST Competence Centre for CI flexo printing at BOBST Bielefeld, Germany, presented in demonstration its newest machines. These included the MW85F, minimised waste, mid-web CI flexo press, which delivers high quality printing and can handle a mix of job lengths, from ultra-short to long, in the most cost-efficient way. Also presented was the new 40SIX, designed to meet the demands of large format and large volume production.
