Following a restructure that combined the strengths of its Ledbury and Evesham production sites, Amcor Flexibles UK invested in the BOBST Maintenance Plus service plan with the aim to increase stability and machine uptime and enhance the longevity of its four BOBST presses.
Amcor Flexibles UK is one of the leading flexible packaging businesses located in the UK. As part of the global Amcor company, the business specializes in consumer-driven packaging solutions for the food and beverage market. Its capabilities include high-definition flexographic and rotogravure printing, lamination, extrusion and laser perforation.
Russell Humphries, Engineering Manager at Amcor Flexibles UK, said: “We have a good partnership with BOBST, having used their technology for several years. When we unified the Ledbury and Evesham production sites, we then took the opportunity to take up a BOBST Maintenance Plus service plan.
“For our team, the primary goal was to extend the longevity of our machines. As a high-performance packaging partner, we need to be able to respond quickly to incoming orders, so it’s vital we can maximize machine uptime, speed and productivity. What’s more we need an extra layer of security with regard to parts obsolescence. Our service agreement gives us this and ensures our four presses stay highly productive.”
BOBST Maintenance Plus is a 12-month service agreement plan available at any time in the lifecycle of a BOBST machine. It provides packaging and label converters with a personalized plan for preventive maintenance by certified BOBST technicians.
Putting proactivity at the forefront of its design, the flexible plan includes regular inspections scheduled at the customer’s convenience. Maintenance Plus ensure equipment lifecycles are maximized, and that production quality and machine availability remain exemplary.
Explaining the value to Amcor Flexibles UK, Mr Humphries added: “What we look for is predictability. Why do we need to be predictable? We operate to tight schedules, have a diverse customer base and supply many on a just in time basis. We need to know that our machines will perform at any given time. Our Maintenance Plus agreement gives us this confidence.”
The plan is also extending the lifespan of our presses by minimizing the risk of part failure or obsolescence, which in turn means we can divert investment to other areas.
“One of the most important advantages for us is in waste reduction. Our service agreement considerably reduces machine stop times, which ensures our team remains productive with our time and energy use, contributing to our wider business sustainability goals. Since integrating the Ledbury and Evesham sites, we have seen a production throughput increase of around 20-30%, and BOBST Maintenance Plus has certainly contributed to that.”
A further benefit of the service is in reporting. BOBST technicians provide clear, comprehensive reporting on machine performance, with a detailed action plan. This unlocks early identification of potential issues, providing a more proactive approach to maintenance planning.
Graham Dolan, Technical Service Manager for Web-Fed Solutions, added: “For high-performance companies like Amcor Flexibles UK, the BOBST Maintenance Plus Service plan is a crucial edge that keeps machines operating at their best, and our customers one step ahead of service needs. What we hear time and again from customers is that predictability is what counts. With BOBST field service technicians on call as part of the BOBST Maintenance Plus service, that’s what our customers get, alongside extended equipment lifespans and preferential rates on preventive and reactive services. Ultimately, Amcor Flexibles UK can strengthen its operations, maximize uptime and control costs through BOBST Maintenance Plus, helping to stay competitive on the global packaging stage.”
To learn more about BOBST Maintenance Plus, please visit Bobst.com.
