Bobst has acquired Dücker Robotics, a leading manufacturer of loading and palletising robots for corrugated and wooden board.

The purchase of Dücker Robotics, which has served the corrugated market for 20 years and installed more than 350 robots worldwide, will help Bobst to develop new automated machinery.

Dücker Robotics manufactures palletisers for multipoint gluer lines, flex folding gluer lines, and flatbed die-cutting lines; it likewise manufactures robotic prefeeders and lifters.

Bobst bought a 70% stake in Dücker Robotics’ shares from its parent company Dücker Group in the deal, which was completed on 28 April. 

Dücker Group rose to prominence in the 1970s as a manufacturer of conveyor belt lines.

Jean-Pascal Bobst, the Swiss OEM’s eponymous CEO, said: “In an era where converters are facing higher demands than ever due to the booming global demand and specifically in the e-commerce market, while simultaneously facing challenges in shortages of manpower, automation has never been more important for our clients. 

“Dücker Robotics has 20 years of proven leadership in the development of robotic systems for the most sophisticated converting machines, and we are very excited to see what we can achieve together.” 

The acquisition is Bobst's first since its purchase of Italian gravure press manufacturer Cerutti in late 2021.

Bobst had sales of CHF 1.8bn (£1.6bn) in 2022, and employs 6,100 staff worldwide.