As the need to increase production capacity became ever greater, a decision on which press to order was straightforward. Tecnopack Univel already operates two BOBST flexo printing machines that deliver reliability and print quality; the logical next step was a third BOBST machine, a VISION CI flexo press.
Tecnopack Univel has been part of the wider Univel Group since 2015. The company’s main production facility is located in Mortara and spans approximately 10,000sqm, with 50 staff working across two production shifts. Since coming under the group’s ownership, the facility has seen annual turnover grow from €6 million to €19 million.
Leading this growth has been Alberto Nicolini, President and Managing Director; Stefano Brognoli, Head of Production; Paolo Bianco, Head of Business Development.
The Mortara plant specializes in flexographic printing and solvent-free laminating. With a focus on flexible packaging for food and pharmaceutical applications, products produced at the Mortara facility are primarily distributed across Italy, but with a growing international footprint that includes Switzerland, Central Europe, Northern Europe, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Eastern Europe.
Market changes
For Tecnopack Univel, navigating the twin pressures of shrinking order sizes and accelerated delivery expectations mean the margin for error on press is next to zero. At the same time, quality in flexible packaging is a prerequisite, and service has emerged as a key differentiator.
This structural shift in the market shapes everything from how the factory schedules its presses to how the company’s plans for the future are developed. Being able to handle more jobs, more efficiently, without compromising quality, requires not only organizational agility but also machinery that can deliver consistent results across a wide variety of substrates and print runs.
Mr Nicolini describes flexibility as the defining imperative for the business going forward, for both the company's operations and the equipment it chooses to invest in.
In 2025, Tecnopack Univel placed an order for a VISION CI, the latest generation of central impression flexographic press from BOBST. The selection was driven by a combination of technical performance and commercial value. The VISION CI affords the converter the right balance between print quality and price, which Tecnopack Univel found compelling when measured against alternative options on the market.
The VISION CI will be used to produce flexible packaging for the company's core food and pharmaceutical customer base, adding capacity to a production floor that is already operating at pace.
Mr Nicolini said: "We were happy with our existing flexo printing machines, so when we needed to increase capacity, the first option was BOBST.”
As part of the VISION CI investment, Tecnopack Univel has also taken out training and service packages from BOBST to support the installation and commissioning of the new press. The backing of structured service offered by BOBST from day one is consistent with the company's disciplined approach to long-term equipment ownership.
Continued partnership
The VISION CI investment is the latest chapter in an established and productive working relationship between Tecnopack Univel and BOBST. This pre-dates the acquisition by Univel Group and is founded on quality, reliability, and trust.
For the Mortara team, the choice to invest again in BOBST flexo printing equipment additionally provides operational value through consistency and continuity. This is important to the company’s growth trajectory continuing long into the future. Specifically, the BOBST VISION CI investment supports the next phase of the company’s journey.
If growth continues at the pace the company has experienced over the previous decade, the management team at the Mortara facility will be looking further ahead. A fourth flexo press is an option. As and when that moment comes, the question of which supplier to call first is likely to have already been decided upon.
Mr Nicolini says: “We are experiencing increased demand for small orders and fast deliveries. As a company, we need to be more and more flexible.
“Having Bobst machines already and being satisfied, it’s natural to maintain the same supplier.”
BOBST
