Digitization, automation, and connectivity:
The packaging industry is facing the unprecedent situation cause by the Coronavirus (COVID-19), with both a sense of urgency and deep empathy. We will come out of this crisis. While many people are working from home, we want to continue to provide information relate to the equipment, systems, and processes that we were suppose to present in the coming months, so that you can best plan your future business base on our news and our upcoming projects.
Brand owners and processors will continue to be under more pressure than ever before. Many challenges are putting our industry to the test, including increasingly faster time-to-market, e-commerce and environmental friendliness. Each of these challenges also brings with it multiple opportunities for the production industry. ‘packaging.
Suppliers of packaging
Suppliers of packaging relate equipment and services are leading the necessary transformation that our industry must go through. We are focusing this transformation on four major pillars: connectivity, digitization, automation, and respect for the environment
The entire production chain must become more agile and flexible. Throughout the workflow, it becomes necessary to make faster, more fact-base decisions. We are entering a period where connect systems will share data throughout the production process to ensure even faster and more precise optimization.
From the initial design file to the label or final box, all stages of End of line packaging automation will interconnect. A modification made at the design stage, whether relate to the layout or the structure of the product, will automatically communicate to all of the following stages. The specific tasks at each stage of the process, such as printing, cutting, or folding, will be automate using digital solutions, which will allow a much faster processing time.
How far have we come – and what efforts do we still have to make?
Digital transformation is advancing at different rates in the packaging industry. All industry players agree that the label sector has been a pioneer in this area and that after a soft start, sales of digital label presses are now higher than those of printing presses. conventional. This situation is explain by the fact that the label industry has reach a stage where digital solutions are able to provide satisfactory quality, productivity, and costs, comparable to the results of conventional presses. In addition, it is important to note that labels are less complex to produce than flexible packaging, folding boxes and corrugate boxes.
Christian Zeller, Marketing Director for Label and Flexible Packaging Solutions, explains: “Connectivity and digitalization have made real progress in the label industry. Among other things, it is now possible to control the quality of each label produce by comparing the final result to the original PDF, regardless of the technology use: digital, hybrid or flexo. ”
Towards a fully automate the flow
Jean-Pascal Bobst, CEO of the BOBST Group, comments: “The digitization of printing processes is the most visible element in the packaging industry. In the years to come, we are likely to see a major acceleration in digital printing. As these solutions become available, the biggest challenge facing printers and converters is not in the presses themselves, but rather in the entire workflow including converting. ”
Jean-Pascal Bobst adds: “At BOBST, we have a fully automate and control workflow, from the initial file to the final product, whether it is a label, a bag or a box. . This solution meets the needs of brand owners and processors. Thanks to the innovations achieved to date and those to come, the fruit of the joint work of BOBST and its industrial partners, we are moving in the right direction. ”
Change approach to make the production of 4.0 packaging a reality
In an increasingly automate world, it is no longer the way of doing things, but the result that matters. This observation implies a profound transformation of the types of employees and the skills require throughout the workflow. The data communicate by the machines will require from the operators a global vision of the whole process and no longer the control of a specific technical task. BOBST is well aware of this radical change and provides training and a powerful suite of applications to support operators.
Human skills and interactions will always be need. But rather than focusing on repetitive technical or manual tasks, human intervention will be more about value-added contributions to boost automation and improve packaging production.
BOBST, an undisputed leader
It has demonstrate its pioneering role in the digitization, automation and connectivity of packaging machines. It is the only company that can offer complete production lines, from media processing to finishes to printing, with the highest level of automation and integration to ensure smooth and flawless production.
The following list is a simple overview of BOBST’s digital solutions to improve automation and connectivity.
For flexible packaging and label production , BOBST’s DigiFlexo technology can now automatically control color quality and consistency, print on a wide variety of media, as well as consume less ink and generate less waste than conventional flexo printing processes. DigiFlexo presses operate on the principle of an automate and connect workflow that relies on the exchange of data between machines. Full automation of the printing process prevents machine downtime, and physical capacities (vision, manipulation) of the operator are replace by the precision of a digital data adjustment system.
In 2019, BOBST launche DigiColor, the flexographic industry’s very first close-loop color control system. The color is measure in line and adjust on each printing unit to match the desire color values. DigiFlexo is the ideal solution for brand owners who need personalization, control color consistency and shorten their time to market.
On the occasion of Labelexpo 2019, BOBST also presente the MASTER DM5, a hybrid label press incorporating a digital printing module with Mouvent Inkjet cluster technology, which provides the best of digital printing and printing. DigiFlexo printing in one press. It is the most highly automate digital press on the label market, and the one that offers the highest print quality, the best productivity, and the best reliability for all types of print jobs, short or long.
folding boxes
For the production of folding boxes, the ACCUCHECK in-line inspection system verifies the absence of defects in the cardboard blanks and guarantees complete uniform quality. This enables brand owners to deliver perfect boxes to their packers and thus reduce waste and downtime in the supply chain. Another major innovation from BOBST is the Digital Control Table. It allows proofreading of print and cut sheets, while providing real-time visual representations to match products to digital proofs. This is a new technology design to improve quality and productivity, and virtually eliminate printing errors, helping to improve brand owner satisfaction.
For the production of corrugate boxes , BOBST’s THQ technology provides unmatch high graphic quality at lower costs than conventional offset and flexo printing processes while providing anti-counterfeiting printing possibilities. PREMIUM GAP CONTROL ensures precise and reliable control of 100% of finish boxes at very high production speed, providing optimum productivity while guaranteeing total bending quality.
To complete its offer, BOBST also offers its Connect Services. For example, the Helpline Plus service allows customers to be immediately put in touch with BOBST experts when need; with this solution, around 80% of technical issues are resolve remotely within two hours. Our Connect Services also include applications making it possible to provide production and machine data via a mobile phone, tablet or via a browser.
Remote Monitoring
Remote Monitoring is a comprehensive production reporting tool, design to quickly access detail machine production, process and technical data. The Downtime Tracking service makes it easier to obtain precise analyzes on the main cause of the downtime of a specific machine or the entire workshop.
Raphael Indermuehle, Sales and Marketing Manager at Bobst, proudly says: “The feedback from our customers regarding our Connect Services is unanimous. They significantly improve productivity and quality, reducing the number of errors and significantly increasing machine availability. The advantages of our Connected Services are considerable. ”
Conclusion
Brand owners and processors are already seeing the tremendous benefits of increase automation, digitalization and connectivity. And this is only the beginning, as it will be possible to see very soon.
Our vision is simple and clear. We move forward with passion and commitment, in the areas of labeling, flexible packaging, folding boxes and corrugate boxes. We want to connect all industry players to a digitize and automate workflow and enable them to access information anywhere, anytime, to empower agile and flexible collaborative operations.
