On 8 April, Bobst of Switzerland took over Cito-System, which specializes in creasing systems for the paper and cardboard packaging industry. It now owns 51% of the German company with 230 employees, while the management of Cito-System retains a 49% stake.
With this operation announced last January, the manufacturer of machines for the label, flexible packaging, folding carton and corrugated board industries wants to offer faster and simpler cutting tools. Bobst also wants to work on the standardization of diecutting tools.
"In a world where flexibility and durability are crucial elements for packaging production, Bobst is aware that tooling plays a strategic role, explains Julien Laran, Head of the Bobst Business Unit Services. Our partnership with Cito-System will optimise the entire packaging chain in terms of innovation and standardisation. Together, we will help to optimize and transform a highly fragmented industry, enabling formers to manufacture and distribute the best possible tools for agile packaging production, giving converters a valuable competitive advantage."
For the Swiss manufacturer, this is not the first investment in cutting tools. Since 2017, it has had a majority shareholding in the German company Boxplan, which produces the Hybridsetter, a die-cutting press form production equipment. And in 2018, Bobst launched a certification program for formers manufacturing tools for Bobst Autoplaten diecutters.
