Bobst (Lausanne, Switzerland), one of the world’s leading suppliers of substrate processing, printing and converting equipment and services for the label, flexible packaging, folding carton and corrugated industries, has unveiled its Connected Technology Solutions designed to drive digital transformations. A combination of new Bobst technologies “will bring unparalleled levels of automation and digital transformation to folding carton converters seeking greater agility and efficiency in die-cutting operations,” said the OEM. The flatbed die-cutter, Mastercut 106 PER, together with a new digital management tool, TooLink, “epitomize” the new Bobst vision that was unveiled in June of this year, for a totally connected packaging production system. “We have identified connectivity, digitalization, automation and sustainability as the cornerstones of packaging production now and in the future,” said Bodo Junge, Product Marketing Director, Folding Carton, at Bobst. “Our vision for the industry is ultimately about enabling converters to adapt and respond quickly to brand owners’ constantly changing requirements. With these four cornerstones front of mind, Bobst is aiming to create a seamless packaging supply chain where machines and tooling communicate with each other to deliver optimum quality and performance, while reducing errors, waste and costs at every point. The introduction of new smart systems, such as our cloud-based workflow platform, Bobst Connect, and TooLink, complement and enhance plant and machine automation to levels not seen before.”
The Mastercut 106 PER (right) is a next-generation die-cutter with a higher degree of automation and production capability than its market-leading predecessor. Its new design makes it “today’s most highly automated and ergonomic die-cutter, encompassing a range of innovative features to support the Bobst vision.” It’s also the world’s only die-cutter that can be set from just a single point of control. Plus, the automation of functions and settings, from feeder to delivery, means minimal operator intervention is required. Stripping and blanking tool settings are now completely automated due to its new Matic Plus System that uses cameras to measure the position of tools, and then aligns them automatically in register to the printed sheet. Jam detection and setting has also been automated along with its Non-Stop Tack System in the delivery section.
Junge added: “Mastercut 106 PER demonstrates a new and unique level of automation. The new features enable a considerable set-up time reduction of 15 minutes, allowing for faster make-readies – so critical to production lines today. Its exceptional level of automation makes this machine the most productive die-cutting equipment for short as well as long runs, enabling packaging manufacturers to be able to accept all types of jobs irrespective of run length.”
The Mastercut 106 PER incorporates TooLink, a platform that connects the die-cutter with tooling to bring together the entire converting process. Production flexibility, job turnaround times and productivity are all positively impacted by this unique technology. The die-cutter is data-chipped with TooLink technology, creating a unique digital ID that enables instant recognition through the machine’s HMI. Chip-equipped tools are automatically detected and a production-ready job ‘recipe’ is provided, leading to both waste and time savings of up to 15 minutes during job changeovers. The technology also allows automatic job recall without any operator intervention.
Bobst launches Connected Technology Solutions to drive digital transformations
