Business - Appointments

Brunner (the German Spandex organisation) has appointed Klaus Wertz to the position of General Manager, overseeing the company’s 160-strong team based in Achern.

Wertz joins Spandex from sanitary and bathroom furniture manufacturer Duravit, where he spent seven years in sales management for the Middle East and Africa. In that role, Wertz oversaw the company’s sales development in these key global growth markets, with a remit including creation of a subsidiary infrastructure in leading territories, and development of regional aftermarket sales, service and support.

Brunner holds a unique position as a leading supplier to German visual communication professionals, offering nationwide next-day delivery of over 26000 stock items from leading materials brands including Avery, 3M, Orafol, Mactac and ImagePerfect. Brunner also offers a range of digital wide format printers and finishing equipment from Epson, Gerber, Mimaki, Mutoh, Keencut, Sprint and Rollsroller.

Wertz comments, “The industry dynamics in my previous industry and in signage and digital wide format are quite similar, especially where customer profile and requirements are concerned. I’m excited about the development scope for Brunner and our customers as the signage and graphics sector continues to evolve and embrace digital.”

He continues, “The competence and know-how of the Brunner team is second to none, and our service promise is at the forefront of the market, with next-day delivery nationwide, across a market-leading multi-brand portfolio. My focus now will be to ensure that we leverage further Spandex’s global organisational reach, while using our local market knowledge to offer superior service to German customers.

“The insights I’ve gained working with architects and interior designers can also help to take Brunner’s business forward in these areas, which can be profitable growth applications for signmakers and graphics producers using our expanding range of décor materials.”

Prior to Duravit, Wertz had a four-year tenure with global hardwood specialist Danzer Group, during which time he completed an MBA (Masters in Business Administration) from Schiller International University. Wertz also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in International Management & International Marketing from ESB Business School in Reutlingen, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from DHBW (Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University) in Mosbach. Fluent in German and English, Wertz can also communicate in French and Arabic.

Spandex Vice President Guido Moresi comments, “We’re delighted to appoint such a dynamic and energetic business leader for this important part of our global organisation. Klaus’s experience in other sectors will bring fresh perspectives to Spandex, and we’re confident that his energy and drive will help to take Brunner to the next level, building on the strengths of the business today, and helping more German printers and signmakers to reap the benefits of our extensive product offering and world-class support.”

SuperWide Digital is now looking for new team members and commercial arrangements. Having impressed visitors and exhibitors alike at the recent Sign and Digital UK exhibition with its superb high traffic digital flooring solution, SuperWide Graphic Flooring, it intends to grow its relationships with print businesses around the UK, filling the gaps in their production or capacity in a discreet and reliable manner.

Two account manager positions are now on offer at the Lancashire-based trade supplier, which provides an almost limitless array of wide-format print collateral all over the UK. From generic to unusual display work, one offs to mass volume and superwide applications, SuperWide is defiantly trade-only – meaning that confidentiality, professionalism and a consultative approach are amongst the key attributes sought from applicants.

"Our new account managers will consult with industry clients around the UK, complementing their capacity with timely and quality products," explains Luke Drogan, business development manager at SuperWide. "Every customer has an individual demand to lay at our door, whether it's speed, size or volume. It's a challenging brief but an exciting one for individuals who hold brand integrity and a customer focus in high regard, as we do."

With a salary to be awarded commensurate with the candidate's experience, SuperWide insists that it is looking for people with the right ethos to join its sincere but vibrant team – and will entertain applications from both within and outside the industry. Interviews will be held on a case-by-case basis, and the recruitment process will be ongoing.

SuperWide's capable arsenal of wide- and superwide-format print equipment, including textile production and finishing services, allows it to produce a cornucopia of finished, ready-to-install products to printers in the trade. Crucially, its activities remain below the line, even as they are delivered, allowing its customers from a range of print disciplines to be confident that their project will never be undermined, and will always be represented as their own.

"With our capabilities now extended, we're able to service more and more varied clients than ever," concludes Drogan. "We look forward to welcoming new partners from throughout the industry to help them complete their print projects to the highest quality standard."

[Photo shows SuperWide's stand at Sign and Digital UK]

Avery Dennison  has appointed Gernot Ritzdorf as vice president, sales, Materials Group Europe, responsible for driving growth in the group and for enhancing customer focus and customer service still further.

Ritzdorf has nine years experience with Avery Dennison and has held several positions since joining in 2005, primarily in marketing, sales and business development.

“This appointment demonstrates Avery Dennison’s continued commitment to our customers,” comments Angelo Depietri, vice president, general manager, Materials Group Europe.  “Gernot has demonstrated an ongoing focus on customer service and responsiveness in previous commercial roles and will continue to do so in his new role. To continue to grow in the marketplace, we must provide the highest service levels in the market, build close relationships with our customers and deliver operational excellence on the ground, across the whole of Europe.”

Ritzdorf succeeds Jeroen Diderich, who assumes the position of vice president, marketing for Avery Dennison Materials Group.

Screen Europe has appointed Colin Price to its UK team as Sales Manager, Print-on-Demand. Colin brings more than 25 years’ experience selling equipment, service and support for vendors such as Scitex, Lüscher and FFEI.

In his new role at Screen, Colin’s considerable technical and commercial sales expertise will support both direct and indirect sales channels in the UK for Screen’s innovative and expanding range of inkjet presses and printers.

“Screen has built a fantastic reputation for its technology and has introduced several game-changing digital solutions over the past few years,” says Colin. “I am looking forward to working with the team in the UK and working with some great products – particularly the new high-speed 150 sqm/hr Truepress Jet 3200UV HS flat-bed printer which is a stunning machine.”

“Colin’s reputation within the industry, coupled with his wealth of knowledge makes him a perfect addition to our expert Print-on-Demand team,” says Brian Filler, President, Screen Europe. “We are regularly bringing new products and models to market for a variety of applications and our success is very much driven by the calibre of expert sales and support team.”

Onyx Graphics has strengthened its commitment to customers and resellers in the expanding European, Middle East and African (EMEA) markets by appointing two additional territory managers.

Cagdas Sevgen joins ONYX with an impressive background and comprehensive knowledge of technology. His previous experience includes management positions with Adobe, Apple and most recently, Epson. Cagdas Sevgen will now oversee Africa, Middle East, South West Asia (within the EMEA territory), Turkey, Greece, Balkans, Romania, Bulgaria, Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia.

Matt Littler joins Onyx Graphics with over 10 years in the imaging industry. Previous experience at Ilford Imaging and Canon Europe, combined with his network of key personnel, make him an ideal addition to the ONYX team. Matt will be responsible for North and Western Europe.

Claes Jeppsson, General Manager of the EMEA region, commented on his expanding team: “ONYX is seeing tremendous growth within the EMEA region. To provide our customers and resellers with the highest quality of service, it is crucial to expand our sales reach and explore new markets within this region.”

With the addition of Cagdas Sevgen and Matt Littler to Onyx Graphics the EMEA sales regions have been redesigned.  For more information, please visit http://www.onyxgfx.com/overview/onyx-representatives/

[Image shows Cagdas Sevgen]

Hollanders Printing Systems has made additional appointments designed to leverage its position in the digital textile printing segment.  Of particular note, Jacco Aartsen Tuijn joins the Eindhoven-based manufacturer as CEO.

Additionally, Rowan Bloemberg has been appointed as marketing manager and - from 1st May 2014 - Renate Besselink will be assisting with direct and channel printer sales.

Aartsen Tuijn formerly held sales orientated roles at Océ Nederlands where he worked on key and new accounts and was also responsible for training. His in-depth experience of the digital print market will bring valuable traction to the Hollanders product portfolio which includes the 3.2m ColorBooster XL, the ColorBooster DS double-sided printer and the entry-level ColorBooster 250 which makes its European debut at Fespa Digital 2014.

“My role at Hollanders Printing Systems is to elevate and consolidate the company’s position as an important player in the digital textile printing industry, and to boost market penetration of all its products,” states Aartsen Tuijn. “The high quality construction and reliability of the ColorBooster family, and the diversity in range that we’re now able to offer, is designed to attract both new and existing customers who want to benefit from dealing with a specialist manufacturer that fully understands this growing sector.”

“The first printers from Hollanders were installed in 2004 and are still performing flawlessly a decade later. This is testimony to the build quality and future-proofing that has been incorporated into the design and manufacture of the ColorBooster products,” Aartsen Tuijn continues. “As CEO I look forward to taking an active and positive role in the company, and making sure that it builds on its specialist expertise in the years to come.”

Based in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, Hollanders was founded in 2003 by Peter Hollanders, the company’s current CTO. The product portfolio, which is available world-wide, comprises the ColorBooster digital textile printer series, the ColorFix infra-red fixation unit and the ColorWash industrial textile washing machine. All systems are backed up by full service, training, technical support and consumables.

[Image shows Jacco Aartsen Tuijn]