Supertape transforms its uptime with BOBST DIGITAL MASTER 340 and MASTER M6

Adhesive specialist company continues decades-long partnership with BOBST - investment in two printing presses helps meet customer demands for faster, more adaptable production.

With a longstanding relationship spanning more than 35 years, Supertape knows BOBST shares its commitments to efficiency, rigid quality assurance and flexibility. Supertape recognized that its original six-machine setup would be an inefficient use of space and energy consumption. The solution? Purchasing a DIGITAL MASTER 340 and MASTER M6. Now, instead of five flexo presses and a digital toner machine, Supertape now has just two BOBST presses.

Saving space, boosting capacity
The DIGITAL MASTER 340 is a modular all-in-line label press offering full customizability. With a 1200 DPI resolution including the option of digital white, BOBST regards it as the ideal combination of flexo and digital printing. The MASTER M6, a centralized and fully digitalized flexo press using DigiFlexo automation, has been similarly well-received by Supertape.

“With the new DIGITAL MASTER 340 we were able to change labels previously printed by traditional flexo, which resulted in less changeover times and less cost in plate,” said Leander Dekke, Production Manager at Supertape. “Similarly, the MASTER M6 helps out with the tape production. While many companies make use of third parties in labelling, its enhancing and inline finishing capabilities have enabled us to do everything in-house. It gives us enormous advantages on delivery time and cost-efficiency.”

The strength of connection
As a company that works with food packaging and has built its reputation on unflagging quality, the result of the streamlining had to boost productivity at Supertape without compromising on consistency or food safety standards. Both the DIGITAL MASTER 340 and MASTER M6 from BOBST use TPO-free, UV-curable inks that offer complete compliance with international food safety ordinances, protecting the position of Supertape in the food and beverage market.

As UV-curing was a process as new to Supertape as the presses themselves, BOBST services provided in-depth training on all aspects of the machines, ensuring employees gained a high level of familiarity across the board.

ACCUCHECK, an inline quality control system that monitors for any defects and detects them before any time-intensive issues are caused, is included on both BOBST presses used by Supertape. And BOBST Connect, an all-in-one digital platform that enhances and improves packaging productivity, has enabled Supertape to monitor all its machines from any location at any time, securing quality assurance.

Efficiency and quality together
With optimized performance, average uptimes at Supertape have leapt from 50% to 70%, with between 90 and 100 meters of labelling per minute now being printed.

BOBST Sales Manager Phil Baldwin said: “It is always a privilege to work with a company over the span of so many years, and we’re proud of continuing to develop our long-term partnership with Supertape. Its work in adhesive labelling is truly cutting-edge, and as such it needs the type of machinery that can be customized while retaining that core of quality and speed. We’re excited to see where our presses can take them, now and in the future.”