BOBST has introduced BOBST Connect, a cloud-based digital platform designed to optimize printing and packaging productivity by integrating machine data with company expertise. This platform aims to place users at the center of their production process, providing real-time insights and control.
“BOBST Connect is the glue that holds all the digital solutions together, supporting customers in every phase of production,” said Léonard Badet, Chief Technology Officer at BOBST.
BOBST Connect consolidates various data-driven services into one platform, facilitating improved planning, informed decision-making, and continuous optimization. New BOBST machines are equipped with BOBST Connect Essential, an entry-level version providing access to real-time data for enhanced production performance and technical support.
A notable feature, TooLink, offers advanced tool management by tracking tool performance and maintenance activities. In folding carton production, ACCUCHECK Job and Recipe Management allows remote setup of inspection recipes, reducing setup times and input errors.
Performance dashboards, developed in collaboration with customers, display real-time operational data, helping plant managers monitor production status and performance metrics. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) are clearly visualized, aiding in efficiency and quality improvements.
“Using the performance dashboards, our customers can easily compare jobs, shifts, or days, and summarize OEE key figures such as set-up, downtime, or number of micro-stops,” Badet added. “These options are particularly popular with our customers. We get feedback that shift management has never been so easy for them.”
The BOBST Connect community has expanded, with over 4,500 machines connected across nearly 100 countries. The platform integrates with customers’ Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), and Management Information Systems (MIS) through APIs, enabling seamless data flow and quality control.
“BOBST Connect is central to our industry vision, based on four key pillars – connectivity, digitalization, automation, and sustainability,” Badet said. “In the future, the entire value chain of printing and packaging production will be digitalized and connected, achieving a new level of performance. BOBST Connect is the catalyst for this exciting future.”