Direction ’08 Showcases Bobst Innovations

ROSELAND, N.J.—Direction ’08, Bobst Folding Carton Open House, was held Oct. 2-7 at Bobst Group North America’s Demonstration and Training Center in Roseland, N.J. Hundreds of attendees from around the country saw Bobst’s most recent innovations, many of which debuted at drupa earlier this year.

According to Chris Raney, VP folding cartons, the open house was a big success. “The goal of Direction is to offer converters, trade finishers, and printers in the North American market a convenient way to stay on top of the latest technologies we have to offer,” he said.

Direction ’08 was also the launching platform for two new Bobst solutions with the World Premiere of SpeedWave and LocPack. SpeedWave provides finishing operations a solution for folding crash-lock bottom cartons and boxes that is faster and more efficient than previous methods. SpeedWave eliminates the use of crash-lock hooks in the folding process, therefore reducing set-up time and making it possible to run at much higher operating speeds.

At the delivery end of the folder, LocPack automates and simplifies the process of packing crash-lock cartons into boxes for shipment. With LocPack, the labor-intensive process of manually inverting and packing crash-locks has been eliminated. This innovation contributes to enhanced productivity of the folding line, reduces the risk of repetitive stress and repetitive motion injuries, and allows manpower to be focused on more productive activities.

Direction ‘08 also featured the “Next Generation” of Bobst Autoplaten® diecutters, foil stampers, and folder-gluers with 13 running machines on the floor with new diecutters including the Novacut 106E, Expertcut 106 LER, and Commerical 106. Foil stamping machines included the Expertfoil 104 FR and Steuer Foiljet 104 FBR. Bobst’s new Masterfold 110 G+S with a Gyrobox unit, a Visionfold 110 A-2 CS, an Expertfold 110 A-2 CS with AccuBraille, and a Starfold 170 were on hand showing the company’s latest offerings in folder-gluers. Handypack GT and Cartonpack GT units, as well as a Plasmatreat surface treatment simulator, were also on hand.

Many attendees chose to participate in a wide range of educational opportunities presented by some of the industry’s leading process and equipment experts. The on-site mini-trade fair offered another opporutunity for visitors to stay abreast of the latest the industry has to offer. Thirty-four industry suppliers were on hand to present their latest innovations and technology.