BOBST has announced the official opening on 16 May 2018 of Bobst Changzhou Co. Ltd, BOBST’s second production facility in China. Titled “China 4.0 – Beyond your packaging future” the formal inauguration will be followed by two days of Open House events on 17 and 18 May.
The new site is a state-of-the-art greenfield facility located in Changzhou, in the Jiangsu province, and is dedicated to web-fed printing and converting technologies for flexible materials. BOBST has been manufacturing web-fed gravure printing presses since the early years of 2000 at Bobst Shanghai, but the requirements of increased production capacity and a news thrust in the activities of R&D focused on local needs in terms of equipment, processes and available services, have led to the setting up of a dedicated facility.
“The opening of the new plant brings is a major step in the next phase of the development of our activities in China for the Chinese market” comments Erik Bothorel, Head of the Business Unit Web-fed and Member of Bobst Group Executive Committee “It is the embodiment of our long-standing commitment to the highest BOBST manufacturing standards and to the local development of gravure printing and lamination solutions, while we continue consolidating our leadership in Asia”.
The success of the RS 3.0 gravure press owes to the fact that it combines the unrivalled quality of the BOBST engineering and the reliable and efficient manufacturing experience and capabilities of BOBST plants in China. The other factor, which is a distinctive feature of BOBST technology worldwide, is the flexibility of the equipment in terms of options, such as the inking system and the drying, that can be customized for geographically located consumable types and process preferences.
“China being such a huge market, we are focusing on the country’s requirements in terms of application demands and collaboration with suppliers” explains Lubin Lu, Zone Business Director of the Business Unit Web-fed for Greater China. “Opening a Competence Center dedicated to web-fed printing and converting technologies for flexible materials in the Changzhou plant, exemplifies our commitment in this respect: being at the forefront of technological research and innovation as machine manufacturer as well as process innovator. We are planning to support Chinese converters with new, innovative product developments and with extensive training courses on our processes: flexo and gravure printing, lamination, coating and vacuum metallizing”.
“Leading companies choose leading technology, and converting companies that choose BOBST will gain an advantage on competition because our leading technology is developed exploiting not only the advantages of our Group’s global synergies but also in cooperation with local competences. This means that we can deliver converters equipment and services that fulfil the specific requirements of the Chinese packaging market now, and are also ready for the future of the industry”, concludes Lubin Lu.
After the official opening ceremony on 16 May, the inaugural open house that will take place on 17 and 18 May will present an overview of BOBST printing and converting technologies, as well featuring in demonstration in the in-house Competence Center the RS 3.0 gravure printing press and the CL 750D compact multi-technology laminator. Both machines are entirely manufactured in China according to BOBST international quality standards.