Bob Usher, Managing Director of Apex Digital Graphics, has been elected as Chairman of Picon, the UK association of print industry manufacturers and suppliers. He succeeds Peter Morris, CEO of Friedheim UK, who has completed his two-year term.
Like Peter, a top priority for Bob will be to increase the effectiveness of the UK print industry’s representations to government and other bodies, and he believes the recent formation of the Graphic Print & Media Alliance (GPMA) will provide a major boost to lobbying efforts. “Peter deserves a lot of credit for his role in bringing together the seven trade associations that form the GPMA. The UK print, media and graphic arts industry now has the opportunity to find a stronger, louder collective voice and appeal successfully for the support we deserve as the country’s sixth largest industry. I shall be working hard with the other GPMA members to bring other trade bodies on board.”
Another early objective for Bob will be working to ensure the success of Ipex 2014. “It’s important for the UK printing industry that Ipex continues to be successful, and I expect the new venue and a host of new features for Ipex 2014 to cement its position as a significant international exhibition. We shall do all we can to support the organisers by encouraging all Picon members to exhibit.” He also aims to continue broadening the membership of Picon, with a particular focus on attracting new members from the digital and cross-media sectors.
“Picon is in excellent hands with Bob as Chairman for the next two years,” says Peter Morris. “The depth of industry experience he brings to the role, particularly from the digital side, will benefit members considerably as the implications for digital technology within the industry become clearer. For myself, I look back on the last two years with pleasure and pride, especially the creation of the GPMA as an umbrella industry organisation for a previously disparate collection of sector representatives.”
Bob has worked in the printing industry since 1966. He started as a technician with Rotaprint, then joined AM Multigraphics, followed by Itek Graphic Products. He founded Apex Reprographics in 1989 which became Apex Digital Graphics in 1995 following the introduction of CtP technology. Today the company is the UK distributor for Ryobi presses and supplies Konica Minolta digital presses.
Picon’s recent AGM also elected Andy Cook, Managing Director of FFEI, to the Picon Council, which now comprises the following: Tim Klemz, Compact Engineering; Ron Chambers, Kadant; Gerard Heanue, Heidelberg; Peter Morris, Friedheim International; Keith Dalton, Fujifilm UK Ltd; Robert Flather, Kolbus; Neil Sutton, Komori; Quen Baum, Morgana; Brian Filler, Screen. Picon has also announced three new member companies: thermoplastic extrusion specialists C&K Extrusions, and digital press specialists MGI Technology and Ricoh.
