Industrie Grafiche Bressan (IGB)’s Oscar della Stampa as the Best Technology Innovator in 2018 is a testimony of the Italian company’s capabilities to produce quality production as well as innovate, Benjamin Daniel finds out
Switzerland : Italy’s Industrie Grafiche Bressan (IGB) is a little bit different company, different from most package manufacturers. It innovates as well as produces packaging that responds to its clients’ specific needs. Not surprisingly, in 2018, IGB was awarded the Oscar della Stampa as the Best Technology Innovator.
“We have a specialist R&D department, which has so far filed more than 100 new patent applications. Some of these innovations already have the potential to be truly groundbreaking. For example, we have developed Tamper Evident and Child Resistant folding boxes, which can be processed on standard packaging lines,” says Alessio Bressan, whose father Dino founded the company in 1960. Bressan and his two brothers manage the company.
Driven by innovation
On February 9, 2019, the Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD – Dir. 2011/62/EU) on anticounterfeiting came into force. This meant that pharmaceutical products in Europe required tamper evident cartons. Glue is not considered as an accepted anti-counterfeiting solution for pharmaceutical cartons, while cases sealed with labels are complex and expensive to pack.
IGB developed a solution that has no glue, requires no change in the packaging processes of pharmaceutical companies, is environmentally friendly, and completely fulfils the needs of the FMD. “It’s a very lean and green solution, and several world-leading pharma companies have already chosen this product to ensure they are ready for the FMD,” says Bressan.
Meanwhile, IGB has also developed and mass-produced an innovative Child Resistant folding box that looks like a regular folding box, but has a locking system with a key. Sales are growing quickly for this product both in Europe and in the US. “These innovations are representative of IGB’s approach,” says Bressan. “We look to the future to understand what challenges our customers will face, we assess the shortcomings of current approaches and we find completely innovative solutions.”
a regular folding box, but has a locking system
The Bobst advantage
Folding cartons are the core business of IGB and it is imperative that they have the most advanced folder-gluers available. This is where Bobst comes in. Bobst has worked
closely with IGB since the 1980s, when under Dino Bressan, the Italian company transformed and added cardboard processing to its printing activities. It has recently invested in its latest Bobst folder-gluer – Expertfold 110 with Gyrobox.
“After analysing various solutions on the market, the quality of Expertfold 110 was the best,” said Bressan. “The tests carried out on the machine were very satisfactory as they allowed us to reach high production speeds. Another determining factor – which competitors cannot offer – is the in-line quality controls. With Expertfold 110 quality inspection is possible during the production phase.”
The Gyrobox, an attachment available on the Expertfold 110, rotates blanks in line between two folding processes, which allows for the rapid folding-gluing of complicated boxes in one single pass.
“Expertfold with Gyrobox is the answer to our needs,” explains Bressan. “The creativity of our R&D department requires a system capable of working with any type of folding and gluing system. We really benefit from the flexibility this system offers, as well as its high production rates and precision on technologically complex products.”
We have a specialist R&D department, which has so far filed more than 100 new patent applications. Some of these innovations already have the potential to be truly groundbreaking. For example, we have developed Tamper Evident and Child Resistant folding boxes, which can be processed on standard packaging lines
Alessio Bressan, IGB