BOBST showcases its holistic approach to optimizing packaging production at CAMPUS 26 in Meerbusch

Well over 100 guests from the DACH region took the opportunity to discuss the latest developments in the packaging industry together with BOBST experts and to look ahead to the future.

The first day was dedicated to the corrugated board industry, while the second day focused on the folding carton sector. On both days, the focus was on the challenges that manufacturers of corrugated and carton packaging must deal with in their daily production. These included, among other things, the need to produce smaller batch sizes profitably—meaning faster and more frequent job changeovers—as well as how to increase process availability in order to ensure uninterrupted production capacity per shift. The event also highlighted ways to reliably produce consistent, repeatable quality and to address the shortage of qualified operating personnel.

“In the DACH region, several thousand BOBST machines are installed, a large number of which are still in operation at customer sites thanks to their high quality and robustness—some for more than 40 years. This makes one thing clear: we need to talk about asset lifecycle management. That is the core of this event,”
said Mark Mc Inulty, Managing Director of Bobst Meerbusch GmbH and responsible for sales and service across the entire DACH region.

Transformation within the framework of an Agenda 2030
“It is my responsibility to set up our organization accordingly. We have therefore developed an ‘Agenda 2030’, with which we are specifically optimizing and digitalizing our processes. We are improving our local on-call service, the deployment planning of our service technicians, and our spare parts supply. By the end of the year, we will significantly increase the number of our field service technicians and strengthen our internal teams—especially in technical service and customer care. In addition, we are hiring data specialists and analysts who will support you with their expertise in data management. Furthermore, in the future, our account managers will be your point of contact for both sales and service matters,” Mc Inulty explained.

BOBST will also use its campus in Meerbusch, currently with more than 130 employees, in the future for presenting new services and technological solutions for the DACH region and for training customers’ operating personnel there.

“Primarily, our campus is a training and service center,” Mc Inulty added.

In services, process optimizations and the digitalization of processes are becoming increasingly important. One example is the modernization of older machines or, alternatively, their replacement with new, more efficient machines or technologies.

A holistic approach reflected in the event agenda
The holistic nature of this offering was reflected in the event agenda, which was moderated by Digital Solutions Manager, Manfred Bauer. Through presentations, live machine demonstrations, showcases of new services and technological solutions, as well as “focus stations,” the team from Bobst Meerbusch demonstrated a wide range of levers that enable customers to optimize their processes holistically or improve individual work steps in a targeted way.

Productivity, efficiency, quality, repeatability, flexibility, and the profitable production of both large and smaller orders were recurring themes throughout the CAMPUS 26 event.

Innovation as a response to global competition
“Germany and the DACH region remain the core of industrial development in Europe, and the strategy developed by Mark Mc Inulty and his team for this market is the right path forward. I hope you will see this reflected in what you experience here over the next two days,” said BOBST CEO, Jean-Pascal Bobst.

“Packaging will continue to play an important role. It is your and our responsibility to shape the future of the packaging industry together and to develop the best solutions.”

In addition to automation, the intelligent use of process and machine data is a key factor. BOBST is working on numerous developments in this area and therefore does not need to fear competition from China.

Innovations presented in Meerbusch
Among the innovations presented in Meerbusch was the completely newly developed Inliner VISIONFFG 1024. This is a compact and efficient complete solution specifically designed for the standard production of medium to large RSC boxes, such as folding crates for beverages and e-commerce packaging.

“Simple die-cut packaging with basic printing is highly price-competitive. At the same time, it must meet high requirements in terms of folding quality and stability. The VISIONFFG 1024 is an ideal machine for this,” said Key Account Manager Salin Hunt.

With its technology and servo-driven inline architecture, the machine minimizes process variability, maximizes controllability, and ensures long-term mechanical reliability. It is also compatible with BOBST prefeeder and palletizing systems. A VISIONFFG 1024 will be installed at the Meerbusch campus later this year for demonstration and training purposes.

Serge Gresser, Technical Sales Manager in the folder-gluer segment, presented innovative features for corrugated board processing using the MASTERFOLD as an example. These included the ability to fully automatically adjust transfer and delivery settings, enabling new standards in performance, ease of operation, safety, automation, and quality.

In addition, these machines can be integrated with innovative robotics solutions, allowing for largely automated packaging production.

Mark McInulty, Managing Director of Bobst Meerbusch GmbH and responsible for the entire DACH region, welcomed guests from across the region.

BOBST Connect increasingly determines productivity
Hand in hand with reduced operator workload, BOBST machines enable time savings through repeatable machine settings using job recipes. These can now be created in advance during prepress using the Job & Recipe Management workflow function of BOBST Connect and transferred directly to the machine control system, including product information and production sequence.

This significantly reduces setup times on the machines and leads to noticeably higher productivity, while also relieving operators.

The digital platform BOBST Connect plays a central role in realizing the company’s vision for the future of packaging production, which is based on digitalization, automation, connectivity, and improved sustainability.

It enables the networking of production systems and the integration of their data. Connected machines can not only receive production data directly from prepress but also report all key figures back to the platform in real time—such as speed, error messages, or energy consumption.

Whether via PC, tablet, or smartphone, customers can access this data at any time through their browsers. This provides a digital representation of their production, offering a level of transparency that has not previously been possible in packaging manufacturing. In addition, BOBST Connect can be integrated into customers’ IT systems, including ERP, MES, and production data systems, via standard interfaces.

Live demonstrations
At CAMPUS 2026, Bobst Meerbusch demonstrated three machines in live operation, focusing primarily on process optimization.

Using a MASTERCUT 1.7 from 2013, the concept of re-manufacturing—modernizing older machines—was presented.

“You can see here typical components that our technicians replace on flatbed die-cutters with original BOBST spare parts, including platens, bronze wheels, worms and ball bearings. In addition, we renew the electronics and carry out safety upgrades. In this way, we extend the service life of the machines and bring them to a higher performance level,” explained Technology Sales Director, Denis Jahn.

The demonstration also showed how older machines—even from other manufacturers—can be connected to BOBST Connect via existing systems, enabling integration into a unified and scalable data strategy.

A second demonstration with the EXPERTFOLD 110 focused on improving changeover processes. By standardizing machine settings and analyzing production data, setup times can be significantly reduced.

Using the example of micro-stops—unplanned machine downtimes—Andreas Klein and Thomas Neumeister demonstrated how data analysis can lead to measurable improvements.

“Based on the data visualized via BOBST Connect, the causes become visible. Their analysis allows us to optimize the data, which we then feed back into the machine. As a result, the changeover process for such a job can take only 20 minutes, and waste can be reduced to fewer than ten boxes,” said Neumeister.

“By standardizing the tools of folder-gluer machines, we also optimize more complex changeover processes,” added Klein.

On the second day, the flatbed die-cutter VISIONCUT 106 LER with ACCUREGISTER and the new Booster package was presented in a world premiere. In combination with Job Recipe Management, it increases automation, shortens setup times, reduces operator workload, and improves machine availability.

For example, feeder and belt table settings are now automatically adjusted based on job data. The Booster package also increases output from 8,000 to 8,500 sheets per hour.

With ACCUPLATEN, makeready times can be significantly reduced, while lower cutting pressure reduces tool wear—resulting in higher productivity, lower costs, and more sustainable production.

Comprehensive information offering
Further highlights included an interview with FFI President Christian Schiffers and the presentation “Price with Confidence” by Thomas Othax, founder and CEO of BOBST partner company Packitoo.

He demonstrated how packaging manufacturers can use the HIPE software solution to calculate production jobs more accurately during customer discussions based on data and thus improve their EBIT.

At dedicated focus stations, participants were able to explore additional opportunities in process optimization, digital data management, and lifecycle services in greater depth.

Overall, CAMPUS 26 received very positive feedback from attendees.

BOBST