IPP  appointments  Bobst 
Intergrafica Print & Pack (IPP) has announced that as from January 1 2004 it will be the exclusive supplier for the entire range of Bobst Group packaging production equipment and systems in Australia and New Zealand. Jonathan Clark, IPP managing director, says, "We are delighted to have Bobst as our new partners in the packaging sector for this region. The Bobst Group has an unrivalled reputation for excellence and innovation in the packaging industry throughout the world and we welcome this opportunity to work with them in bringing their expertise to the local market.

"The Bobst Group is able to provide industry-leading solutions across the entire spectrum of packaging print, finishing and converting. This is an area in which IPP already has a well-established presence in Australia, particularly in the folding carton and corrugated sectors, so the addition of Bobst to our product portfolio is a natural progression for us and will greatly enhance our ability to deliver a comprehensive range of production solutions.

"This is a perfect fit for us and demonstrates once again our determination to bring the best equipment from the best manufacturers around the world to the local market", Clark explains in a press statement.

In the packaging and printing sector, the Bobst Group and its associated brand names are organised around three main areas of packaging production:

• Folding cartons: Product solutions includes the BOBST Champlain web presses for inline printing and finishing of cartons, the well-known BOBST Autoplaten sheetfed platen presses for die-cutting, embossing, hot foil stamping and hologram application, and the BOBST range of folder-gluers for efficient conversion of blanks into all types of boxes. Also available are the ASITRADE laminators for attaching printed sheets onto single-face corrugated board.

• Corrugated board: The BOBST SPO-FLEXO production lines for corrugated packaging comprise flexo printers, flatbed die-cutters and ancillary equipment for loading, stacking and palletising. BOBST universal folder-gluers are also applicable for conversion of corrugated boxes. Also in this sector, associated brands include ASITRADE for single-face microflute corrugated board manufacturing, RAPIDEX for corrugated board converting, automatic folder-gluers, stitchers and boxmakers, and MARTIN for the manufacture of corrugated cases incorporating printing, cutting and creasing, folding, gluing and stitching.

• Flexible packaging: In this sector, the leading brand is SCHIAVI rotogravure and flexographic printing presses with inline laminating for flexible packaging materials such as polyethylene and polypropylene as well as paper.

Carsten Wendler, IPP general manager for packaging, says, "IPP has been very successful for some time now in the packaging sector, primarily with the Jagenberg range of folder/gluers for the carton market. It was with great regret that we were forced to relinquish that agency earlier this year but, in doing so, we took the opportunity to seek out new alliances in the industry. The end result is that we are now in a position to form this exciting new partnership with the Bobst Group.

"When it comes to packaging, the Bobst name stands above all others in terms of the range and quality of the product offering. Nobody else has the same breadth of experience and working knowledge across all types of markets around the world. What this means for local packaging producers is that, in the future, we will be able to provide the best possible solutions to meet their specific needs. I look forward to introducing the full range of Bobst packaging equipment and services to our customers and demonstrating how we can make a real difference."