Jean Pascal Bobst in his opening talk at the Bobst stand at K admitted that the bouquet of solutions that his company is proposing may seem to be overambitious or even presumptuous. He is aware of what has been apparent to us and others for several years, that it is easy to talk about innovations and technology in relation to individual equipment but what the industry needs is a strategy that ties its modernization together. The cost of new technology has to make sense and its benefits have to go beyond efficient to address the challenges of sustainability, which in turn requires not only new tech processes but also collaboration with material suppliers. And the one way to tie all these threads together is data which necessitates the cloud.
Moreover Bobst as a company engaged in paper-based, flexible packaging as well as labels sees the need (or is compelled by its positioning) to lead the industry by proposing new materials, processes, and packaging products in all these categories. Jean Pascal Bobst said that in future packaging processes, workflows, and efficiencies – data and cloud will be the key. In addition, similar to what was said at the recent Elite Conference in Mumbai – he said that the new solutions will have to be collaborative. “Clients don’t buy machines any more, they buy solutions. The job is the key driver on the production side,” he said.
At its stand at K, Bobst showed some of the new OneBarrier solutions that it is collaboratively developing and championing together with raw material and ink and coating suppliers, brand owners, and packaging converters. OneBarrier is a family of new alternative and sustainable solutions.
At K 2022, Bobst and its partners have revealed Generation 3.0 ‘hero samples’ of the oneBarrier PrimeCycle – a polymer-based mono-material, which is recycle-ready while retaining excellent barrier qualities, making it a potentially groundbreaking development for sustainable packaging. PrimeCycle is an EVOH-free, top-coat-free solution for a full PE barrier and is an alternative to metalized polyester film. The Generation 3.0 samples, which are various examples of food packaging, are another significant evolution from the 1.0 version first presented at K 2019 where PE MDO laminates were shown. The new generation of samples is now converted and printed on real-scale equipment, assuring quality and barrier performance along every successive conversion phase.
The reveal came just weeks after Institute Cyclos – the respected expert in the classification, assessment, and certification of recyclability of packaging – awarded Bobst an EU-wide certification of recyclability for oneBarrier PrimeCycle, with a recyclability level of 98% for unprinted materials and 95% for printed flexible packaging. This is an exceptionally high recyclability level for a high-barrier film involving Dow, Michelman, Sun Chemical, and Zermatt – all present during K 2022 to demonstrate their contributions to this development.
The second major breakthrough on show at K 2022, and recently announced at the press meet at Bobst Mex, was the oneBarrier FibreCycle – a full paper, mono-material, recycle-ready solution created together with partners Michelman and UPM, in response to the increasing demand in the industry for more paper-based packaging options. Together with Finnish-based converter Huhtamaki, Bobst revealed the first-ever hero samples of converted packaging using the FibreCycle solution, representing another exciting and significant milestone for sustainable packaging.
“The oneBarrier solutions presented at K 2022 are the real deal – sustainable, recycle-ready packaging with excellent barrier properties,” said Sara Alexander, Marketing and Communications manager, Flexible Packaging Industry, at Bobst. “Sustainable packaging has represented one of the great challenges of the modern era, and one of the most necessary. Now, together with our partners, we are ready.”
Bobst Connect subscription tool available since 1 July 2022
An integral element of the company’s One complete solution, and also on show at K 2022, was Bobst Connect. It is a user-centric digital platform that links different steps of the production process through a digitalized and automated workflow. It improves efficiency, control, and data knowledge, driving quality and productivity across the value chain.
One complete solution is a portfolio of end-to-end workflows that connect all steps, from production file and pre-press through to the reels of printed or laminated substrates, or of high-barrier functional films or paper. The company announced that as of 1 July 2022, Bobst Connect Essential – the first subscription plan of this very powerful tool – has been made available on all Bobst machines as a standard supply. This is a unique offer within the industry.
This article is from the November issue of Packaging South Asia magazine, to be posted on 5 November 2022. Subscribe and reserve your copy. You can also meet us at our stand 6 in Hall 1 in the forthcoming Labelexpo India in Greater Noida from 10 to 13 November 2022.
