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Bobst Headed in the Right 'Direction'
October 11, 2008 By: Kristin Smith Official Board MarketsSeeing is believing. The industry leader in converting equipment knows it’s not enough just to sell a piece of equipment, it’s about building customer relationships and showing a commitment to the industry.
That’s why an event like Direction ’08 Bobst Folding Carton Open House is so important to a company like Bobst. The event allows customers to see in action all that the company has to offer in the way of folding carton equipment and what the company is continuing to do on a larger scale than a trade show.
“By doing it here, you have the equipment already in store so you can show much more equipment. This really allows you to show much more what your capabilities are,” says Chris Raney, vice president, folding carton, Bobst Group North America.
About 400 current and prospective customers from all over the North America attended the open house, which has been held every two years since 2002. Each Direction, the company seems to broaden its reach. “We’ve seen more and more people coming from further away,” Raney says.
Held at the company’s North American Demonstration and Training Center in Roseland, N.J., this year’s event, Oct. 2-7, featured the “Next Generation” of Bobst Autoplaten® diecutters, foil stampers and folder-gluers with 13 running machines on the floor.
Included were new diecutters, the Novacut 106 E, Expertcut 106 LER, and Commercial 106 E. Foil stamping machines shown were the Expertfoil 104 FR and the Steuer Foiljet 104 FBR. The new Masterfold 110 G+S with a Gyrobox unit, Visionfold 110 A-@ CS, and Experfold 110 A-2 CS with AcccuBraille and a Starfold 170 demonstrated the company’s latest offerings in folder-gluers. Handypack GT and Carton pack GT units as well as the Plasmatreat surface treatment simulator also were running.
For Bobst, to remain the industry leader, developing new technologies can never stop. The company won’t wait for the next drupa or next big show to develop something new for the industry. In fact, just four months after this year’s drupa, the company was launching two new solutions at Direction ‘08: SpeedWave and LocPack.
“That’s just a sign to the industry that we never stop innovating,” explains Raney.
The Speedwave provides a fast method for folding crash-lock bottom cartons and boxes that eliminates the use of crash-lock hooks in the folding process. LocPack automates the process of packing crash-lock cartons into boxes for shipment.
The hum of machinery could be heard during Direction as these two technologies were demonstrated along with the other machines.
A mini-trade fair of 34 industry suppliers and educational opportunities were part of the week’s activities. Visitors to Direction who stayed Friday night were treated to an evening of fine dining on the World Yacht Tour of Manhattan Dinner Cruise.OBM
