Belgium-based bookbinder and printer, GEWA, took a bold step into the packaging market four years ago, investing in its first BOBST die-cutting and folder-gluing equipment. The strategy proved so successful that the packaging operation quickly outgrew its initial capacity. Facing increasing demand for both short and long runs, GEWA recently double its production capabilities with a duo of new investments; a NOVACUT 106 E die-cutter, and a VISIONFOLD 80 A2 folder-gluer, taking its packaging division to the next level.
A family-run company based in Arendonk, a municipality in the Antwerp province, GEWA began as a book printer. As the business grew, it diversified into printing brochures, magazines, leaflets, and posters, and then into bookbinding before making the leap into the world of packaging.
“We started die-cutting and folding-gluing four years ago”, explains Levi Geenen, Process Manager, GEWA, whose father and uncle founded the company in 1989. “We quickly found some customers and volume, and now we’re focusing more on this department. We want to grow. Our focus is on shorter runs, but we have started to offer long runs. So, while we start die-cutting from 500 sheets, we also get orders for 100,000 sheets or 1 million boxes. Plus, we would also get urgent orders that we had to produce in three days, for example. That mix meant we needed more flexibility, and we had to invest to ensure we could deliver these numbers. Our vision was to have one machine for long runs and a smaller machine that we could use to support on long runs where needed, but that could also offer more flexibility on smaller jobs”.
Given the success of GEWA’s previous Bobst investments, Geenen had no hesitation in recommending the company invest in what he calls “the whole package”.
“We already had the EXPERTFOLD 110 and the SP 102”, he explains. “So, the first step was the new die-cutter. Since we were also looking for an additional folder-gluer, we decided to optimise the whole process by investing in both machines at once.”
The Novacut 106 E began full operation in November 2024, and the Visionfold 80 A2 in January 2025. The impact on GEWA’s business was immediate. Geenen says, “We more or less doubled capacity and there is a big difference in quality. We see an uplift in the quality of the crease – and if the crease is better, the folder-gluer also runs better. That means the product is improved and we can find new efficiencies in our converting process.
“Ultimately, these efficiencies represent the main benefit of this investment. We can increase throughput across our business. The quality of the solutions we sent to our customers was always high, but now we can maintain those high standards with twice the capacity”.
Pierre Feltgen, Area Sales Manager Folding Carton, Bobst, was integral to supporting GEWA through the process until its mutually successful conclusion. “This was a perfect deal for both parties”, said Feltgen. “After a successful demo, the installation and training process went smoothly and the customer was able to hit the ground running. It was a pleasure to deal with the GEWA team once again, and we look forward to continuing to support them as they continue their exciting expansion”.
Geenen is clear that this is far from the end of GEWA’s growth journey – this is just the latest step along the way. In a market that demands increasingly higher standards, they don’t just aim to keep up – they strive to lead. “It’s better to talk with results than with words,” he concludes. “We think that packaging is critical to the future of offset printing. Our business has a clear vision of the future, and this investment is just one step on the way to making it a reality.”
