Bobst has opened the industry's first technology centre where packaging and branded goods manufacturers can run production tests, compare different coating techniques, certify the results and calculate the costs for each test run.
The newly built technology centre, which has a fully equipped laboratory, expands the Bobst Italia Competence Centre in San Giorgio Monferrato in Italy, where Bobst gravure printing and laminating machines are also installed.
"The name we have chosen for this coating line - Leonardo - says it all," explains Detlef Merklinger, Head of the Coating Product Line and Managing Director of Bobst Italia. "Just as Da Vinci was a polymath, our Leonardo reflects our process expertise in the various sectors of the coating market with their countless end and niche applications. On entering the technology centre, the first thing that catches the visitor's eye is the size of the line, which is 40 metres long. But more impressive are the technical possibilities of the process with more than 30 different application methods as well as a modular dryer concept with four different web guiding systems and drying techniques."
At a demonstration of the Production of labels with clear-on-clear technology a liner was made from a siliconised PET material with a thickness of 23 μm coated with a water-based pressure-sensitive adhesive. During the demo, the machine data was recorded and visitors were shown the possibilities of the Cross-linking of the coating line presented.
The so-called PowerNet system provides an uninterrupted stream of data in real time, including electricity, gas, energy and compressed air consumption, both for the individual areas of the machine and for the machine as a whole. This makes it possible to recognise exactly where which costs are incurred. With the help of this system, customers can find out, for example, at which speed they best leave their machine running to Save energy and at the same time the Delivery dates of their customers.
"We have risen to the challenges of various market segments for coating technology in the areas of flexible packaging, consumer goods and industrial products. Our high-performance coating line and our specialised technology centre represent our commitment to developing innovative coating technologies for future requirements," says Detlef Merklinger.
Source: Bobst
