Royal Vaassen, a Netherlands-based global producer of paper and aluminium packaging materials, has announced its investment in a new BOBST EXPERT K5 1650mm metallizer for barrier paper production, scheduled for installation in mid-2026. This marks a continuation of the company’s 25-year collaboration with BOBST and supports its expansion into the growing barrier paper market, driven by the packaging industry’s shift away from plastics. The new metallizer will be equipped with BOBST’s latest technologies, including the AluBond® process for enhanced oxygen and moisture barriers and the recently launched iMA system, an AI-powered, machine-integrated vision and process control solution unique in the vacuum metallizing sector.

The BOBST iMA system, introduced in 2024, automates the precise mapping and control of aluminium pools, a task traditionally requiring highly skilled operators. Combined with AluBond®, which extends shelf life by improving barrier properties, the technology is expected to streamline Royal Vaassen’s production process significantly. The investment follows collaborative trials and prototype development at Bobst Manchester’s dedicated barrier Competence Centre, accelerating Royal Vaassen’s route to market with new sustainable packaging solutions.

This new EXPERT K5 will operate alongside Royal Vaassen’s first BOBST metallizer, purchased in 1999 and fully upgraded in 2022 to modern standards. Managing Director Dries Knaapen emphasized the long-standing partnership with BOBST, noting that the upgrade has kept the original machine in top production form. “With the installation of the EXPERT next year, we will be able to increase production of barrier paper, and we are excited to see how BOBST iMA can help make the process easier,” he said. Founded in 1867, Royal Vaassen now serves food, medical, and cosmetic sectors in over 50 countries worldwide.