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Extended life of BOBST equipment

Invest in Longevity
BOBST equipment is built to perform and designed to last.

Maximizing lifespan, minimizing impact
BOBST designs its machines with long-term durability in mind. From component selection to assembly and quality control, every step is engineered to ensure operational resilience and long-lasting performance. Many BOBST machines continue to operate effectively for 15, 20, or even over 30 years.
Extending the life of existing machines is a strategic response to the environmental and economic challenges facing the packaging industry. Through upgrades, retrofits, and remanufacturing programs, BOBST enables converters to improve machine performance, reduce operational costs, and delay new equipment purchases - significantly minimizing environmental impacts.

Smart solutions to extend equipment lifespan
BOBST offers more than 10,000 standardized upgrade solutions tailored to improve productivity, sustainability, and machine longevity. These include:

  • Advanced scorers that reduce substrate use by an average of 1.2%.
  • Energy-efficient motors, ventilation kits, and heat recovery systems to lower energy consumption.
  • Fluid folding systems that enhance quality while reducing disposable waste.
  • Maintenance contracts for pumps, chillers, and coating heads to optimize operational continuity.
  • BOBST Connect retrofitting for real-time monitoring of energy and process parameters on older machines.

These upgrades are adaptable to specific equipment configurations and production needs, offering a cost-effective and environmentally sound alternative to new machine acquisition.

Remanufacturing and circular economy initiatives
Through its circularity program, BOBST acquires, refurbishes, and resells packaging machines that are up to 20–30 years old. The complete reconditioning process - mechanical, electrical, and software - restores equipment to peak operational performance and reduces the environmental footprint associated with new machine production.
Since acquiring CM Service Srl in 2021, BOBST has expanded its refurbishment capacity. The number of large-format corrugated machines restored increased from 8 in 2022 to 16 in 2024, with a target of 20 by 2025–2026. These efforts support a circular model where machines are reintegrated into production lines with extended operational value.

Innovations with lasting impact
BOBST’s portfolio of longevity-enhancing solutions includes:

  • BOBST Oil Cleaner: A filtration system that recycles industrial oil, reducing the need for new oil and cutting energy use and emissions.
  • OneBarrier Retrofit Kit: A solution for coating machines that enables the production of fully recyclable flexible packaging.
  • Ventilation efficiency kits: Improve drying performance through heat recovery while minimizing solvent emissions.

To support customer access to these innovations, BOBST collaborated with Nexales, a Swiss provider of digital B2B tools, to develop a mobile application for sales teams. This platform enables streamlined marketing and deployment of retrofit and upgrade solutions, helping converters more easily implement life-extending upgrades.
These innovations allow customers to modernize their existing assets, comply with new regulations, and improve sustainability performance - all without compromising productivity.

Driving results through data and scale
By the end of 2024, 17.5% of installed BOBST sheet-fed machines had undergone upgrades to improve energy and material efficiency. Refurbishment activities continue to scale, backed by internal metrics and performance indicators. Retrofit demand and customer satisfaction confirm the growing importance of life extension as a viable sustainability strategy.

A commitment to long-term value
BOBST’s approach to machine longevity combines engineering expertise with environmental stewardship. Whether through spare parts availability for 30 years, proactive obsolescence management, or scalable refurbishment programs, every action supports a long-term, responsible use of equipment-