BOBST and Beswick Machinery’s Zimbabwe and Zambia VIP Days foster industry exchange

Taking place 5 and 7 August, the days proved a carefully staged meeting point for converters, printers and brand owners to explore ideas, solutions, and a sense of what the future holds in print and packaging.

For Bruce Beswick, who has steered Beswick Machinery’s relationship with BOBST for decades, the decision to host these events was born of both practicality and vision. “Both countries are important markets for BOBST and Beswick Machinery, with several customers already using our printing and converting solutions,” he explained.

“To visit each existing customer as well as new potential customers individually isn’t practical, so we decided to host VIP Day events in central, conveniently located hotels. That way, customers could join us away from production pressures and spend some time after the presentations networking with the speakers and their industry peers over a drink and snack in a relaxed environment.”

The VIP Day was an insight-led forum where conversations spilled over from conference slides into cocktail glasses. The machinery was the headline act – the full BOBST portfolio across folding carton, corrugated board, flexible packaging and labels was introduced – but the real value lay in discussions that spoke directly to regional realities.

Bruce added: “We briefly covered our entire range of solutions, but the speakers focused more specifically on the products and equipment that we felt were most suited to the region.”

The emphasis was deliberate; Zimbabwe and Zambia are established packaging economies with their own evolving dynamics. Converters in the regions already serve demanding brand owners, yet, as Bruce noted, “There is definitely evidence of potential for diversification and doing more locally to better manage the supply chain.”

There was a clear buzz in the air as presentations evolved into animated exchanges, with delegates pressing for detail, challenging assumptions, and extending the ’business’ part of the VIP Day until well into the evening.

That spirit of engagement is perhaps the truest marker of where the two industries stand today. These are markets that have weathered turbulence, yet they remain poised, curious and forward-looking. Delegates were not only listening – they were envisioning how BOBST technology might help them cut lead times, enhance productivity, diversify capabilities or reinforce local supply chains.

The response has been enthusiastic, said Bruce. “We’ve received special thanks, both personally and on social media, with many delegates asking when we will be returning for similar events. They found the day really informative and wanted to bring more colleagues the next time around.”

Looking ahead, Bruce points to Beswick Machinery’s long-standing commitment and history in Southern Africa, with more than three decades of installing, servicing and supporting customers in territories that extend far across the region. ‘

That assurance is essential in regions where infrastructure and supply lines are often under pressure. The BOBST VIP Days were about demonstrating supply chain continuity; proof that world-class technology can be paired with reliable, long-term support, even across borders where the packaging industry sometimes feels overlooked.

Eric Pavone, Region Business Director AFMET at BOBST, added: “What stood out clearly at the BOBST VIP Days was the strong sense of community and shared purpose among attendees brought together by Beswick Machinery. Converters across Zambia and Zimbabwe are not only navigating challenges, but they’re also actively shaping the future of the packaging industry in the region and seeing where BOBST technology fits into the puzzle. The high level of engagement and enthusiasm was fantastic to see.”

To learn more about Beswick Machinery, please visit https://beswickmachinery.co.za/.

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