Kemna Druck Kamen optimizes label production with Bobst

Family-owned Kemna Druck Kamen, a printing company based in Kamen, Germany, with nearly 50 years of experience, has implemented Bobst Digital Master 340, equipped with Bobst Connect to meet today’s label production challenges. Now in its third generation of leadership under the Heckmann family, the company has diversified and evolved from a garage-based operation founded in 1971 to a technologically advanced printing business.
 
'One of our key differentiators is short delivery time, sometimes even same-day delivery,' said Martin Heckmann, Co-CEO of Kemna Druck Kamen. 'This puts significant pressure on our production team to optimize processes and continuously improve our workflow.
 
'With the Digital Master machine, we needed to understand how to optimize and maximize productivity. Getting this data manually is challenging as we don’t want to overload the operator with additional tasks of inserting periodic information and analyzing and maintaining this data.'
 
Bobst Connect has delivered tangible benefits to Kemna Druck Kamen's daily operations. 'The platform shows us how effectively we use the machine,' Heckmann explained. 'The equipment monitoring feature gives us a glance at machine status, production metrics, and utilization. This is particularly useful for intervening if we see a long downtime.'
 
The performance management feature has proven valuable, especially for short runs, where analytics can use previous machine data to optimize setup time for reprint jobs. The converter states that production has tripled since the Digital Master 340 label press was installed at the site.
 
Integration into existing workflows was smooth. 'You don't need training to use Bobst Connect,' noted Heckmann. 'The dashboard and platform are easy to understand and use. The Digital Master 340 machine sends the required data automatically, so there's no additional effort required from our side.'
 
Bobst continues to develop the platform based on converter needs, working to enable seamless integration and communication between Bobst machines and other equipment on the production floor. For label converters like Kemna Druck Kamen, Bobst Connect represents a significant advancement toward packaging production's connected, data-driven future.
 
By transforming machine data into actionable insights without burdening operators, BOBST is helping converters maintain their competitive edge through enhanced efficiency, reduced waste, and optimized production.