On February 25, 2025, nearly 100 label and package printing professionals were welcomed at the new 28,000 square foot Bobst Atlanta Competence Center for a Bobst North America Open House event. The new facility is dedicated to serving customers in the label and flexible packaging sector, and showcases the press manufacturer’s flexographic, digital, and Bobst’s “All-in-One” hybrid technologies.

Throughout the event, Bobst demonstrated how it’s machines can help converters simplify label production by instilling the company’s vision in shaping the future of the packaging world with a focus on its core pillars – connectivity, digitalization, automation and sustainability.

Prior to press demonstrations, Patrick Graber, product and marketing director at Bobst, delivered a presentation detailing the company’s history in the label and narrow sector, its digital journey, and where it stands today. He shared how Bobst’s latest developments are addressing the most pressing industry challenges, including the lack of a skilled workforce, regulation compliance, product fits for various applications, and color consistency.

Following his presentation, Graber also led a panel discussion on RFID and brand protection, featuring experts from Amazon, ScanTrust, and Avery Dennison.

Currently, in the label and narrow/mid-web sector, Bobst has sold over 1300 presses worldwide, and is present in more than 70 countries.

Graber emphasized how Bobst offers “the right solution for the right application” within its package printing press portfolio. Technologies include digital inkjet, All-in-One (hybrid), narrow web flexo, wide web CI flexo, and rotogravure.

In 2024, Graber said, for the first time ever, UV inkjet technology surpassed LEP and dry toner in unit press sales. Plus, he stated, the Bobst Digital Master series became the most sold hybrid press, taking 35% market share in the sector.

In discussing the machine’s global success and automation being among Bobst’s four pillars shaping the future of packaging, Graber said, “The output of the machine should not be impacted by the skill of the operator.”

A key focal point of the event was on Bobst Connect,  the cloud-based digital platform that enables users to have a complete overview of their production process, from the PDF to the finished product. Designed to allow converters to improve productivity, maximize efficiencies and eliminate waste throughout the production process, BOBST Connect is continually updated with new capabilities. In addition, the platform now harnesses the power of the Bobst ACCUCHECK system on the Bobst Digital Master Series by enabling converters to track and optimize their productivity and quality and seamlessly archive and share the quality reports.

As for the press demos, attendees witnessed Bobst technologies in action, including live, end-to-end production on the Digital Master 340, an All-in-One modular platform. They’ll also observed efficient and profitable label production on the Digital Expert 340, a roll-to-roll UV inkjet press, as well as flexible packaging production for short runs on the highly-automated Master M6 flexo press.

The All-in-One label production concept, which integrates printing, finishing, diecutting, and quality control in a single pass without compromising quality, was front and center. Additionally, high-level flexo automation was highlighted through on-the-fly job changeovers, showcasing quicker turnaround times, reduced waste, and profitable short-run flexible packaging production.

The Atlanta Competence Center positions Bobst as a central resource for the Americas, fostering collaboration and driving the future of the packaging industry.