Platinum Packaging reinvents its production floor with Bobst

Kenyan flexible packaging specialist Platinum Packaging has implemented two highly automated Bobst Master M6 in-line flexo presses with oneECG technology to optimize its production floor and operations.

Nairobi-based Platinum Packaging specializes in tailor-made flexible packaging and labelling and is one of the leading packaging manufacturers in the Eastern and Central African region.

The company supplies brand owners in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, agrochemical, pharmaceutical, automotive and construction industries. With a total annual production of 580 tons, it continuously adapts to meet evolving packaging demands.

Established in 2019, Platinum Packaging initially concentrated solely on gravure printing relying on machinery including a Bobst Nova RS 5003 press complemented by a Novalam S 550 solventless laminator. However, a fire in 2022, which damaged the facility, caused a severe setback.

As CEO Hasit Patel and his team began the reconstruction, they identified an opportunity to reassess their operation and pursue innovative new strategies. This included extending its partnership with Bobst to include two new Master M6 in-line flexo presses equipped with oneECG and DigiFlexo automation.

‘The fire gave us an opportunity to rethink our approach and introduce more BOBST technology to address some of our major pain points, mainly long setup times due to color matching, high levels of setup waste, and slow speed to market,’ said Patel. ‘The introduction of the Master M6 presses has been instrumental in improving our efficiency for short runs, thus optimizing our wide web and gravure presses for more extensive runs as well as ensuring uniformity across all our output. This last piece of the puzzle has truly augmented the capacity of the other presses.’

According to Patel, the integration of the Master M6 presses with the existing machinery has significantly enhanced the production capabilities for Platinum Packaging. In particular, the introduction of Bobst oneECG technology has been critical, leading to notable increases in efficiency and flexibility, along with high-quality print results, faster job transitions, and enhanced prepress efficiency.

‘Thanks to oneECG, we’ve achieved great improvements in productivity, reductions in downtime, and significant savings on waste of materials and time,’ added Patel. ‘oneECG has disrupted our operations as it is compatible and consistent across different applications and technologies, enabling more efficient setups and faster job completion. Digital color matching has significantly expedited our processes, enhancing business continuity and consistency. The automated setup procedure has also reduced substrate waste to less than 30 meters, and we can execute on-the-fly job changes in a couple of minutes. This makes the M6 powered by oneECG one of the most disruptive technologies I’ve seen in recent years.’

Patel praised the technical support provided by Bobst and Daragh Whelan, Bobst’s application technical director.

‘Throughout this endeavor, Daragh has given us invaluable support allowing us to achieve the best possible outcomes from oneECG, supporting us in a management change shift and optimizing the usage of the Master M6 presses together with the rest of our technologies,’ added Patel. ‘This strategic partnership with Bobst was not just a choice but a necessity and it has been truly transformative. With the advanced Master M6 flexo presses, we have been able to expand our product range, particularly in the food industry, by providing printing and converting services with in-line capabilities, among others for shrink sleeves.

‘But more than that, this evolution represents a paradigm shift in our approach. By adopting Bobst oneECG process, we have embarked on a path of continuous improvement. It has allowed us to serve our customers with greater agility and respond promptly to unexpected demands, thereby strengthening their confidence in Platinum Packaging.’