Bobst extends coating capabilities

Bobst has created a coating product line division within its web-fed business unit in an effort to strengthen its position and increases its resources dedicated to the development of coating equipment.

Bobst has created a coating product line division within its web-fed business unit in an effort to strengthen its position and increases its resources dedicated to the development of coating equipment

Bobst’s core competences in coating are based in the production plant of Bobst Italia in San Giorgio Monferrato, in northern Italy. With more than 50 years of know-how in gravure printing, coating methods, drying systems and web substrate handling, the facility is Bobst’s Centre of Excellence for gravure printing, laminating and coating technologies.

A recent project for the supply of a new aluminum lacquering line to a major European converter has furthered Bobst’s decision to create a coating product line operation within its web-fed business unit.

This has been supported by the appointment of Detlef Merklinger as head of its coating product line operations.

Bobst said the strengthening of the team of specialists dedicated to this market sector underline the continuity of its commitment to provide ‘excellence in the field of coating’. The strategy is to expand its capabilities and product offering to further develop additional segments, including paper coating and laminating, labelstock, tape production, siliconizing, aluminum lacquering and printed electronics.

Merklinger has held a number of senior management positions during his 20-year career in the converting industry, with special expertise in all aspects of labelstock production and markets. He was also responsible for the coating and laminating operations of Valmet Rotomec in the late 1990s, prior to its acquisition by Bobst in 2004.

Merklinger said: ‘I have been very impressed by the engineering excellence and operational efficiency of Bobst coating solutions. I look forward to building on the momentum behind the growth of recent years to further expand our hold in the global market.

‘Planned investment in Bobst Italia’s technology center will also enable widening of the range of applications available for research and development testing, and trial runs for new developments in coating technologies.’