BOBST unveils new Competence Center for packaging solutions in Italy

ITALY – BOBST, a global leader in packaging machinery and services, has opened a new Competence Center for labels and flexible packaging in Florence, Italy.

The 1,200m² facility features six complete production lines, including inline flexo, digital, and All-in-One technologies.

The centre, designed to provide local expertise and foster collaboration, aims to effectively serve BOBST’s customers in the region.

This development comes in response to the growing installed base of over 1,300 narrow and mid-web presses globally.

The Florence Competence Center is the latest in a series of strategic expansions by the company, following the successful launch of a similar centre in Atlanta, USA, earlier this year.

The opening event in Atlanta, held from October 8 to 10, attracted more than 200 customers who explored BOBST’s offerings for the narrow and mid-web market.

The showcase included prepress technology, BOBST machinery, and its cloud-based digital platform, BOBST Connect.

BOBST is also investing in its workforce, with over 350 employees now working in the narrow and mid-web printing and converting sector.

According to Matteo Cardinotti, head of BOBST’s Narrow-Mid Web Printing & Converting Product Line, the company’s significant investment in this segment reflects its commitment to connectivity, automation, and sustainability.

“We are supporting the growth of the labels sector by opening more Competence Centers and expanding our workforce worldwide,” Cardinotti said.

In Italy, BOBST has also increased its production capacity and strengthened its service network to meet the needs of European customers.

Expansion into South Korea

Last month, BOBST announced opening a new research and development (R&D) and manufacturing facility in Busan, South Korea.

This move aims to enhance the company’s global footprint and more effectively serve customers in the Asia-Pacific region.

The facility will focus on producing machines for the corrugated board industry, including BOBST’s NOVAFFG and VISIONFFG models. It will also reintroduce the JUMBO for large-scale applications.

The new Busan site is located near a major power grid, allowing BOBST to respond more efficiently to regional and global demand.

BOBST CEO Jean-Pascal Bobst emphasized the importance of proximity to customers, stating, “This new site in South Korea is a major milestone and reinforces our commitment to serve the Asia-Pacific market.”

The Busan facility will play a key role in BOBST’s strategy to expand in high-growth regions and solidify its leadership in packaging innovation.

Key BOBST executives, including CEO Jean-Pascal Bobst, business unit head Alain Berger, and post-merger integration manager Maxime Bobst, attended the inauguration ceremony, underscoring the importance of this investment.

The expansion aligns with South Korea’s broader industrial growth, particularly in the high-tech sector.

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