The second attendee at our NON-EVENT23 was CEO Christoph Gamper from DURST. Talking about beacons, motivations, and even a question of whether Christoph Gamper hates losing. Once again, a super nice fireplace chat with a fantastic backdrop.

Christoph Gamper’s enthusiasm for producing the DURST EXPO 2022 Label event is evident in this brief interview. He describes the joy of speaking face-to-face with customers, watching the DURST technical experts go over both machines and technology one-on-one. Christoph ponders the future of trade shows and a bit of his vision for the future of print.

Morten from Inkish interviews Christoph Gamper, CEO of Durst Group, at LabelExpo in Barcelona. Despite the extreme heat in Hall 3, Christoph shares that business at Durst is just as “hot,” with the company continuing to grow and now having over 4,200 systems installed worldwide, including more than 550 digital label systems, and 33 owned companies. He explains that a collective mindset within the company drives Durst’s success—while they don’t aim to be the biggest, they strive to be the best in technology. Everyone at Durst has bought into this goal, creating what he describes as a big, happy family pushing forward together. Christoph says he spends little time in his office and is often traveling to meet customers, attend trade shows, and visit markets like China and the United States, ensuring he stays close to the market and to customers’ needs. He sees his role as leading the innovation roadmap while also “sniffing the markets” to deeply understand customer pain points, with Durst’s mission being to remove those pains. He credits Durst’s success to its strong mid-management, close collaboration between teams, and a culture where leadership actively engages with both staff and customers. He also outlines Durst’s expansion beyond labels into other areas, especially packaging, including corrugated and folding carton, through Durst Group’s partnership with Koenig & Bauer under Koenig & Bauer Durst. In addition, Durst remains committed to large-format printing, ceramics, 3D printing, additive manufacturing, and new ventures in software. Christoph highlights All4Labels as a customer and mentions being particularly proud of All4Site, a company he founded in New York, brought back to Europe, and which is now rapidly growing under Redstone Capital with major clients like Nike. He concludes that while not every segment develops at the same speed, Durst is growing strongly, expanding strategically, and maintaining its focus on innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction.

CONVERSATIONS is a popular format on INKISH.TV. This time we feature CEO & Co-Owner Christoph Gamper from DURST. The confidence DURST has is inspiring and with a clear objective of being number one or two in the segments they address is encouraging and an important statement to all stakeholders. Great conversations and I feel confident that we will have more stories from DURST in the future! Enjoy! LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophgamper/   ----- If you read Dutch - please also read the article from our friends at Printmedianieuws.

Clermont knows what he is talking about, and in this interview, we learn about the EU's Accessibility requirements, which will allow even blind people to produce, for example, photo books online. Christoph Clermont is not so nervous about this, as he believes that technical development will help people with disabilities even faster than the legislators can invent "new" legislation. We, of course, ALSO get a chance to talk about his fantastic project, Printess - which he describes as an online version of InDesign. It was great talking to him - enjoy!

Wayne Beckett talks to Christoph Clermont Co-Founder at Printess regarding their cloud based white label solution. Christoph also talks about their recent launch of Printess-Make the worlds first text-to-design editor.

Bromberger Packungen celebrates but doesn't celebrate its 120th anniversary because, as CEO Christof Bromberger says, the big celebration is 125 years in only five years. As the company name indicates, Bromberger Packungen produces packaging material. In this film, we speak to both Christof Bromberger and Arno Duerr from Weilburger Graphics about choosing and working with the right supplier of different consumables like varnishes, coatings, and even ink. Enjoy :-) Interview by James Quirk

Convertible Solutions manufactures paper that is so appealing that you simply must touch this. This is unfortunately not something we can offer yet, however, Print Sample TV host, Pat McGrew show you some really nice print samples in this episode. We like what we see. What do you think?

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-grisolia-a86796123/

Wayne Beckett talks with Christian Weyer Managing Director of Crispy Mountain about the key line MIS/ERP system. Christian has been on quite a journey over the last few years after their acquisition from HEIDELBERG. Christian talks about the the new Crispy Mountain and their vision for the future.

You’re doing it wrong! How we fail to tap into true potential of computers in businesses since 35 years. Link to presentation: https://grafkom.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/WS19/crispy+mountain_Christian_low.pdf

Conversations keep being one of our most popular formats on INKISH. In these interviews, you get to know the human behind the company - what drives them as individuals, values, and careers, and what we like about the format is that the relaxed atmosphere alone brings the message forward. In this Conversations, we talk to Christian Metz, the third Metz generation owner of the successful group of IST companies.

Christian Menegon, HP Indigo’s global business development manager who joined Indigo in 1995, has been at the forefront of digital technology’s evolution in the label industry for nearly three decades. He discusses HP Indigo’s new V12 and 200K presses.

Sometimes - or actually mostly - what you print and what you fold need to be 100% correct, and with Kaiser Vision on your folding line, you can verify and set actions accordingly. Here the CEO of Kaiser Vision explains how the camera inspection system works on a Horizon bucket folder, typically used for pharmaceutical inlays.

At the Seiko Open Week 2022, Christian Goebel built a test printer to show how Seiko printheads can be used to print in all directions - from the side, from the top, and even from the bottom - quite amazing. ideeGO has among other things build machines that print on all the sides of plastic boxes, to support a comprehensive logistics solution. Jetting from the distance is also one of the things the Seiko printheads are capable of, which you can see in the video jetting on uneven surfaces. Learn!

Christian Engel is the CEO of BHS Corrugated. Together the two brothers have developed BHS Corrugated into a global company. In the 'Conversations' with Engel, we get a behind the scene view of the history, the values, and what drives Christan Engel in his leadership.

German with English Subtitles. The organization Komori is expanding its local presence in Europe and beyond. This a courageous strategy that needs great people on site and, in the case of Germany, also includes a new competence center. In this short interview, our editor Jacques Michiels asks Mr. Baumann - to the point - how he and his organization view this new approach and the expanded collaboration with Komori. -- Die Organisation Komori erweitert ihre lokale Präsenz in Europa und darüber hinaus. Eine mutige Strategie, die tolle Leute vor Ort braucht und im Falle Deutschlands auch ein neues Kompetenzzentrum beinhaltet. In diesem kurzen Interview fragt unser Redakteur Jacques Michiels Herrn Baumann - to the point - wie er und seine Organisation diesen neuen Ansatz und die erweiterte Zusammenarbeit mit Komori sehen.

At Printing United Expo in Orlando, Morten B. Reitoft from INKISH spoke with Chris Schowalter from Durst about his first year with the company and how the software division has evolved under his leadership. Chris joined Durst about a year ago, after working at Fiery. “At last year’s Printing United, I was only four days into the job,” he said with a laugh. “Change is difficult. It’s not just about learning the products—it’s about understanding the people and how things work. But the Durst team has been incredibly welcoming. I actually sent a note on my flight here to thank my colleagues for how open they’ve been. I never had to position myself internally; they were ready to collaborate from day one.” He explained that this openness has been a key factor in the progress the software division has made. “Of course, it’s a team effort, but I can say there’s a lot of me in what we’ve built this past year,” he said. “When I look around this booth, it’s not just a small software corner like you see with most hardware companies. We have our own large stand, a full team, and even a dedicated website that went live yesterday. It shows that Durst is serious about software as a core part of the business.” Chris described how Durst’s approach to software is based on openness and interoperability. “Durst started by investing in companies like Callas and by committing to openness,” he said. “We’re working with other OEMs and even showing that on the floor here. People were surprised to see an HP printer at a Durst booth, but that was deliberate. It’s our way of saying we’re open, we’re connected, and we mean it.” When asked if it had been a challenge to convince the organization to support this approach, Chris said he had expected internal resistance but was surprised by the support. “I thought it would be a tough conversation,” he said. “But there were open doors everywhere. The mindset was, ‘If this is what we want to do, let’s do it and mean it.’ That’s how Durst works—there’s no nonsense, just action.” He went on to describe the Open Software Initiative and how it ties into the company’s Smart Factory ecosystem. “We’ve built easy-to-understand packages that offer maximum functionality,” he said. “We didn’t want overly complex pricing or endless options. For example, Smart Shop and Lift—our web-to-print and ERP solutions—are sold directly because they involve long integration projects. But our new products, Prepare and Produce, are channel-ready and easy to implement. That’s what we’re launching here at the show.” Chris also spoke about the acquisition of Callas and how that strengthens Durst’s capabilities in PDF handling and automation. “We’ve brought in some fantastic people from Callas, and it’s expanding what we can offer,” he said. “When you look at the market, you see many third-party integration platforms like Cocco and Atomyx. We’re not trying to replace them; we’re embracing them. We have extremely powerful APIs across our products, and if a customer wants to integrate with Cocco, for instance, we support that. In fact, Cocco is here at our booth because we see them as a partner, not a competitor.” He emphasized that the goal is to make software integration easier, not more confusing. “We lead with value, not limitation,” Chris said. “We don’t tell customers they have to buy everything from us. They can choose what fits their needs. But once they see how well the modules connect, it often makes sense to use more of them. The key is flexibility.” Reflecting on the journey so far, Chris smiled. “This is just the first step,” he said. “It’s been a year of preparation, and now the real work begins. That’s the fun part.” Morten thanked him for the conversation, noting how the openness and innovation on display reflected Durst’s evolution from a printer manufacturer to a complete technology company. Chris nodded. “Exactly,” he said. “That’s what makes this so exciting.”

Chris Schowalter worked for EFI/Fiery for 13 years, so it wasn't easy for him to change position - but now it was time. And here you can hear about some of his considerations - super nice interview, but recorded on his second day at DURST - so bare with both of us :-)

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-price-4ba64926/

This video follows the development of a print operation in Toronto that evolved from print brokering into complete in-house manufacturing over more than a decade. What began with basic commercial print needs gradually expanded into wide-format production, vehicle graphics, and specialized automotive and motorsport applications. The conversation explains why depending on external vendors became a limitation—particularly around scheduling, consistency, and accountability—and how bringing production in-house changed both operational control and long-term planning. Growth happened incrementally, through measured investments in equipment, space, and people rather than rapid expansion. A significant part of the discussion focuses on workflow and automation. As job volumes increased and margins tightened, software became critical to meeting timelines and controlling costs. The video outlines how imposition is handled using Ultimate Tech software, where layouts are automatically generated based on material type, sheet or roll size, flute direction for corrugated work, and production method. This reduces manual intervention, material waste, and ink usage, while improving repeatability across jobs. Ultimate Tech is shown as one component in a broader workflow that also includes web-to-print, ERP, preflighting, and accounting systems. Rather than being implemented all at once, the workflow was built piece by piece, with adjustments made over time as requirements became clearer. The video also addresses early limitations, the evaluation of alternative solutions, and why the final setup reflects practical production needs rather than theoretical efficiency.

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-minn/

At Printing United 2025 in Orlando, Wayne Beckett from INKISH sits down with Chris Minn, CEO of Digital Ink, for an open and energetic conversation about marketing, automation, mental health, and the future of print. Chris explains that Digital Ink, founded just a year ago, was built from a shared passion for marketing and print automation. “Our special spot is print software,” he says. “We love solving challenges — finding out how automation can link systems and generate real results. Most of us spent around ten years in web-to-print with Infigo, so we really understand what PSPs need.” The company’s focus is on blending creativity with workflow intelligence, ensuring that the orders and leads it generates don’t get lost once they reach production. This year, Digital Ink has been investing heavily in AI and automation, partnering with Smart Elephant, led by Harrison Bailey, to integrate advanced AI-driven tools into print workflows. “AI isn’t a buzzword for us,” Chris says. “It’s about using it practically to make printers faster, smarter, and more profitable.” After relocating from the UK, Chris and his family are now fully based in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, where Digital Ink is headquartered. “It’s a thriving entrepreneurial region,” he says. “There’s a genuine appetite for print here. We’re even collaborating with FESPA to support their upcoming Dubai show.” Chris is also part of the Printing United Alliance All-Stars, stepping in last minute but quickly embracing the role. He praises the show’s Media Day format. “It’s like speed dating for innovation,” he jokes. “You get direct, candid conversations with OEMs and software developers before the chaos of the main show starts. It’s the perfect model — exhibitors get real value, and the media gets real stories.” One of Chris’s biggest personal commitments is She.t For Brains, the mental health and wellness initiative he co-founded with Dakota from GPA, Dave Rosendahl of MindFire, and John Bailey of Precision Proco. “We’re not experts,” he says. “We’re facilitators. Our goal is to connect people in print with the right resources and create a space where they can talk openly. It’s a private LinkedIn group — authentic, raw, and real — because the first step is admitting we have a problem.” Finally, Chris talks about his experience with Printing-Connect Online, calling it “a no-brainer.” “The reach and the quality of audience data are unmatched,” he explains. “The team’s proactive — even when I forget to share something, they’ve already done it. If you want your brand seen globally and effectively, it’s the smartest investment you can make.” The conversation ends with laughter and friendship. As Wayne jokes about darts and future drinks, Chris smiles — embodying exactly what makes him stand out: equal parts business acumen, creativity, and genuine care for people in print.

He has a nose for business. He sees opportunities. He knows his products. He cares about his customers - they are referred to almost like family members. He strongly believes in offset and is the only one constantly bringing machines to tradeshows whenever possible. He has a strong respect for his father, who passed away years ago. His father gave Manley an opportunity and another direction of life that was initially planned. Manley is the distributor of RMGT and other products. This story is about Chris Manley and GraphCo - great story!