Double-digit growth for Bosch Packaging Technology

Caption: Industry 4.0: Track & Trace - The CPS (Carton Printing System) forms the basis of all serialization solutions from Bosch. The printer can be flexibly adjusted, either to print the data matrix codes on top or on the side of the folded cartons. The new CPI Software from Bosch ensures reliable connection between software and machine level during the serialization process.

Complete lines and Industry 4.0 solutions are strategic areas of growth.

Strongest growth in the Asia-Pacific region

Sales in Europe declined slightly in 2015, ultimately accounting for 37% of total sales. In North America, sales grew by almost 18% – remarkable given the generally stagnant situation in the machine manufacturing market. Overall, North America now accounts for 27% of total sales. Latin America saw sales growth of almost 25%. At the continental level, Bosch achieved its greatest growth – somewhat above 27% – in Asia-Pacific and Africa. In total, Bosch Packaging Technology generated some 90% of its sales outside Germany in 2015. Emerging markets are thereby playing an increasingly important role.

Moderate growth expected in 2016

The overall rather modest start to 2016 coupled with the high volume of orders from last year leads Klefenz to anticipate moderate single-digit growth for the current fiscal year. To drive growth, Bosch Packaging Technology plans to further expand its line and system competence and develop solutions for the connected production of the future.

Complete solutions from a single source

At Bosch Packaging Technology, a key topic for the future remains line and system competence. Here, Bosch not only views itself as a provider of the entire production line, from processing technology to the finished packaged product, including services. Instead, the company is taking the approach a step further and looking to turnkey projects, which it sees as offering great potential, especially outside Europe. In these projects, Bosch assumes responsibility for everything from planning of material and personnel, building technology, and cleanrooms to the production facilities themselves, thereby providing customers with complete solutions from a single source. Projects have already been successfully implemented with customers from the pharmaceutical industry in Latin America, the Middle East, and Russia.

Industry 4.0: applying the Bosch Group`s know-how to target industries

Industry 4.0 is another driver of growth. The modern factory is smart and connected, linking traditional manufacturing with sensors, software, and services. Bosch Packaging Technology works with its customers on pilot projects aimed at developing needs-oriented solutions. In doing so, the company can draw on the Bosch Group’s many years of experience. “Whenever it is a question of connectivity, we benefit from the Bosch Group’s expertise as a leading user and leading provider in this area. We will be launching a whole range of pilot projects in 2016 to tailor Bosch’s existing software solutions to the needs of our customers in our target industries pharmaceuticals and food,” says Klefenz. One such solution already employed by customers all over the world is Bosch’s Track & Trace software.

For instance, in 2015, Bosch Packaging Technology and Hikma Pharmaceuticals in Jordan and Saudi Arabia implemented Track & Trace projects for pharmaceuticals. Using Bosch technology, the company prints and verifies up to 400 cartons per minute, and is capable of printing serial numbers, 1D and 2D codes, batch data, and expiry dates on the cartons. Bosch’s new software ensures that the software and machines within the process are reliably connected. The various packaging lines can then be monitored from a central office. Thanks to the solution, Hikma is also able to export the data to an external database, for instance that of a regulatory authority. In 2016, other customers in the US, the UK, and Austria will be equipping their production facilities with Track & Trace systems made by Bosch.