Digital, Hybrid and Now Flexo · Thomas Macina · Sales Director Labels & Flexible · Durst Group

Durst has built a strong position in digital label printing. Now the company is adding another important piece to the puzzle: flexo.

At LOOP Americas in Chicago, Morten B. Reitoft meets Thomas from Durst to talk about the continued growth of the company’s label business — and the newly announced acquisition of MPS.

For Thomas, Durst’s development in labels starts with something relatively simple: listening to customers.

With almost 700 systems in the market, Durst receives continuous feedback about automation, sustainability, ease of operation, software, service, and the technologies converters need next. The company’s advantage, Thomas explains, is having much of the necessary expertise internally — from R&D and ink development to software and production technology — allowing Durst to respond quickly.

But customers don’t live in an exclusively digital world.

Digital remains core to Durst’s strategy, but long runs still exist, flexo remains important, and a significant installed base of flexographic presses will eventually need to be replaced.

That is where MPS fits.

With MPS joining the Durst Group, Durst adds dedicated flexographic technology and expertise alongside its existing digital platforms and its hybrid cooperation with OMET. MPS will retain its own name and continue as MPS – A Durst Group Company.

The ambition is broader than simply adding another press to the portfolio.

Durst increasingly wants to offer customers a complete production environment encompassing digital, hybrid and flexographic printing, software, inks, automation, service and — increasingly — robotics and production intelligence.

MPS also brings an established installed base and experienced team. Combined with Durst’s international sales and service organization, the acquisition creates opportunities to strengthen support for MPS customers worldwide.

And while the technology continues to expand, Thomas repeatedly returns to something less technical: people.

Durst is family-owned, recently celebrated its 90th anniversary in Brixen, and places considerable emphasis on relationships among employees, customers, management, and R&D. For Thomas, those relationships ultimately enable technology and customer requirements to develop together.

In this INKISH film, Morten talks with Thomas about Durst’s growth in labels, customer relationships, digital printing, flexo, hybrid production, service, and why bringing MPS into the Durst Group represents much more than an acquisition.

It brings Durst another step closer to offering the complete label-production ecosystem.