Development of Companies & Trademarks

1890	Joseph Bobst opens a printing supplies shop in Lausanne.
1908	Opening of a workshop for customer service.
1915	The company produces the first equipment on its own.
1917	Bobst is registered as a trade name.
1918	A joint-stock company is formed under the name J. Bobst & Fils SA.
1938	Bobst scales up to industrial production with the inauguration of the Prilly works near Lausanne.
1940	The first Autoplaten® diecutter is unveiled.
1952	Sales reach CHF 10 million.
1965	Bobst acquires the Champlain company in Roseland (NJ).
1977	Bobst begins its expansion into the new industrial zone of Mex (Lausanne).
1978	The company is renamed BOBST SA and is listed on the Lausanne Stock Exchange for the first time.
1980	BOBST begins operation of a factory in Maua (Brazil).
1985	BOBST SA acquires MARTIN (1923) – in Villeurbanne and Bron/Lyon – and PETERS Maschinenfabrik GmbH (1890) – in Hamburg, suppliers to the corrugated board industry.
1987	Acquisition of a shareholding in SCHIAVI SpA (1927), at Piacenza and Modena, specializing in machines for the printing and laminating of flexible materials.
1989	Group sales top the CHF 1 billion mark for the first time.
1990	BOBST celebrates its centenary under the motto "Of Knowledge and People".
1993	Acquisition of ASITRADE AG (1975), in Granges, a manufacturer of microflute production equipment and laminating machines.
1997	BOBST begins operation of a factory in Itatiba (Brazil). BOBST begins operation of a factory in Shanghai (China).
1998	Acquisition of Corrugating Roll Corporation (CRC), in Rutledge (TN), a manufacturer of corrugating rolls.
2000	Takeover of Fairfield Enterprises Ltd, in Redditch, owner notably of Oscar Friedheim Ltd (1913), BOBST agent for sales and services in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Strategic partnership agreement with BHS Corrugated Maschinen- und Anlagenbau GmbH, in Weiherhammer, involving the transfer of some of PETERS’ activities as well as the cession of CRC. This partnership enables BOBST to even better meet the needs of the expanding corrugated board industry. Majority shareholding in SCHIAVI.
2001	Adoption of a new legal structure. BOBST SA will henceforth focus on the development, production and marketing of its products and services. Shareholding management is provided by Bobst Group SA. Development of an operational organization more closely oriented toward the three industries served by the Group. Expansion of the factory in Shanghai, China. Expansion of the factory in Itatiba, Brazil.
2002	Implementation of an operational organization by business areas. Construction of a factory on the periphery of Pune, India..
2003	MARTIN acquires RAPIDEX (1917) in Angers, France, a manufacturer of in-line machines for the printing, slotting, diecutting, folding-gluing and/or stitching of large-size and heavy duty corrugated cases. Acquisition of the remaining SCHIAVI shares.
2004	Acquisition of the converting business of Metso Corporation (Finland), consisting of 6 partners: APOLLO, ATLAS, GENERAL, MIDI, ROTOMEC and TITAN. Majority shareholding in STEUER GmbH Printing Technology in Leinfelden (Germany).
2005	Acquisition of the remaining STEUER shares. Friedheim International Ltd is sold to its management.
2006	The sheeter business under the brand name APOLLO is sold to a third party. The aluminum foil slitting and rewinding business under the brand name MIDI is discontinued. The Palatine Engraving Co. Ltd and Lasercomb Dies Ltd, both not active in the Group’s core business, are taken over by their top management. The companies ROTOMEC SpA, SCHIAVI SpA and Bobst Italia SpA merge into one company under the name of Bobst Group Italia SpA. The brand names ROTOMEC and SCHIAVI continue to be used for the respective products.
2008	Expansion of the operations in the flexible materials market worldwide with the acquisition of FISCHER & KRECKE GmbH in Bielefeld (Germany). Implementation of an organizational change whereas the complete sales and services activities are integrated into the business areas.
2010	Integration of the activities of RAPIDEX under MARTIN production lines management.