Bobst India reported a strong performance across folding carton, corrugated, flexible packaging and labels in 2025, with folding carton emerging as the standout segment. “We did well across all segments in India, but folding carton had an excellent year, especially for folder gluers,” Venugopal Menon of Bobst India said during Pamex 2026 in Mumbai.
The company recorded its highest-ever folder-gluer sales in the Indian market during last year. Looking ahead, Menon said the outlook for 2026 remains cautiously optimistic amid geopolitical tensions, currency volatility and uncertainty linked to developments in the US and West Asia. “Last year’s GST reforms hopefully should support growth, particularly in the FMCG and food segments,” he said.
At Pamex 2026, Bobst did not display machines. “If any customer wants to see the machines, we are happy to take them to our Pune facility,” Menon said.
During the exhibition, Bobst announced the expansion of its Braille embossing offering. The AccuBraille system, widely used for rotary Braille embossing on folder gluers, is now being offered on the Novafold range, having previously been limited to the Expertfold series. “This makes AccuBraille accessible to a much wider segment of converters,” Menon said, noting that the first two Novafold with AccuBraille had already been sold in India.
Packaging South Asia recently visited Mumbai-based Integrity Packaging to cover the installation of India’s first Novafold with AccuBraille.
SP 106 EVO die cutter in India
The company launched the SP 106 EVO die cutter in India from January 2026. Positioned for new entrants including aspiring and mid-segment converters, the machine is aimed at customers looking for reliable, precise and with quick changeovers in die cutting and stripping process. “We have already closed two deals for the SP 106 EVO, with installations planned in the north and west,” Menon said.
Addressing currency movements, Menon said the depreciation of the rupee against the euro and the dollar has had a mixed impact on customers. “For some customers it matters, for most others it does not, because growing businesses still need to invest in capacity,” he said. He added that local manufacturing helps mitigate currency risks, pointing out that Bobst has been manufacturing folder gluers in India since 2010 and has recently added local manufacturing of vacuum metallizers for flexible packaging and flexo folder gluers (FFG) for corrugated lines.
Commenting on the India–EU free trade agreement announced this week, Menon said the benefits would likely be phased in over four to five years. “Duties will not come down immediately, but the FTA agreement should benefit pharmaceuticals and the textiles industry, which will also drive packaging demand,” he said, adding India could gain competitiveness as global brands diversify supply chains.
