When Swanline Group decided to integrate BOBST Connect across its production floor, the UK-based trade-only supplier of paper-based materials, print, and conversion services to the packaging and POS sectors, wasn’t just looking to monitor its BOBST machines. The company had a bigger vision – to bring every critical piece of equipment into one unified, data-driven ecosystem, regardless of the manufacturer. That vision has now become reality.
Swanline is the world’s first company to connect a non-BOBST machinery to the BOBST Connect platform using BOBST Connect Data Kit, a milestone that could fundamentally change how converters approach digitalisation. For years, the promise of Industry 4.0 has been slowed by fragmented data across different machine brands, incompatible systems, and the frustration of having visibility into some equipment but not others. Swanline’s installation suggests those barriers are starting to fall.
From Partnership to Pilot Site
Swanline’s relationship with BOBST stretches back over two decades, beginning with a BOBST Asitrade FOLIOSTAR laminator that’s still running today. That early investment laid the solid groundwork for what Managing Director Chris Brown describes as “a relationship built on trust, performance, and a shared commitment to continuous improvement.”
As the business grew, now employing around 125 people and serving trade partners across the UK and Europe, so did its BOBST portfolio. A VISIONCUT 1.6 die-cutter arrived in 2019, followed by an EXPERTFOLD 165 folder-gluer in 2022, and a second VISIONCUT in 2023. But it’s the latest addition to the BOBST Connect Platform, a non-BOBST die-cutter, which complements the digital integration.
“BOBST Connect supports our ambition to drive smarter, more efficient, and data-led manufacturing,” explains Production Director Dave Salt. “As a trade-only supplier, we must deliver with accuracy, consistency, and speed. It is essential for us to access real-time data across all our critical equipment, not just some of it.”
Results Speak for Themselves
After roughly 12 months with its integrated BOBST Connect system, the numbers tell the story. Swanline has achieved a 7% productivity uplift across key processes compared to the previous year. Early indications show that unplanned downtime has dropped by 5 to 10%, helped by clearer insight into stoppages and faster identification of root causes. Even waste has reduced by approximately 2 to 4%, influenced by improved setup control and closer monitoring of job performance.
The platform’s intuitive dashboard provides different teams with the views they need. Production managers get operational overviews, while operators and planners dive deeper into individual job performance. This flexibility has made the system useful across all levels of the business, not just for management.
“With BOBST Connect data available directly to our commercial team, we now have a reliable source of real-world performance information that supports estimating and costing,” says Brown. “By understanding setup times, run speeds, and the impact of material choices, we can cost jobs more accurately.”
Opening New Possibilities
Perhaps the most significant aspect of Swanline’s installation isn’t what they’ve achieved so far, but what it makes possible in the future. The ability to connect non-BOBST equipment means converters can build a complete picture of their production floor, capturing and interpreting data across machinery that previously operated in isolation.
“We’re excited to work with BOBST on this world-first installation,” adds Salt. “We look forward to gathering production data from a wider portfolio of non-BOBST machines. It’s a big step towards building a more connected, responsive, and data-informed manufacturing environment.”
Additionally, Swanline is utilising energy monitoring through the BOBST Connect platform. “Energy efficiency is an important consideration for us, both from a cost and sustainability perspective. Through BOBST Connect Data Kit, we have started to gather energy data and expect that, over time, BOBST Connect will help us understand patterns, highlight opportunities for improvement, and support more informed decisions around energy use,” explains Brown.
As the UK pilot site, Swanline is helping shape a system that could benefit the entire industry. In doing so, the company is proving that the future of connected manufacturing isn’t about replacing everything with one brand, it’s about bringing everything together, regardless of the manufacturer.
