12 minute read
DURST PRE-FESPA TOUR
Durst wins acclaim from Antipodean visitors for pre-FESPA European tour
Visitors to Durst’s factory in Brixen, Italy pre-FESPA were initiated into the defining qualities of a ‘Durst’ler’ as they toured the company’s magnificent premises and witnessed first-hand how digital printing systems are built from the ground up.
- By Colleen Bate
I was fortunate to be part of this throng of industry players who came away impressed by the processes and interactions of this ever-evolving institution that puts perfection and people at its core.
Durst Oceania managing director Matt Ashman defines the term ‘Durst’ler’ as “a great attitude and a desire to work with Durst and our customers”, and as we spent two days with him as our host, accompanied by Durst Oceania sales manager, large format print and textiles, Julian Lowe, we came to understand the expression first-hand.
The tour is standard practice which the company bestows on visitors, not only to immerse them fully into the Durst experience, but also to lay on lavish hospitality. In our case, we enjoyed a myriad of memorable experiences extending across Italy and Austria, before going on to Munich where FESPA 2023 was held.
BRIXEN FACTORY TOUR
Third-generation family business Durst is a leading manufacturer of industrial digital printing machines in the fields of large format, label, textile, ceramic and packaging printing. The company, which started in 1929, develops its products entirely in-house, manufactures them at its headquarters in Brixen and Lienz, and then sells them to customers all over the world.
Durst also offers software including backoffice enterprise resource planning, digital workflows and B2B/B2C online store front solutions and owns several other companies, including Alupress, a producer of high-grade aluminium.
Durst Group is majority owned by the Oberrauch family with CEO Christoph Gamper who is a co-owner.
On our tour of the sleek and striking spaces of the Brixen location, we were taken through Durst’s Kraftwerk, the company’s in-house spin-offs and startups incubator which opened last year, born out of the need to give the company’s 2020 acquisition of US Vanguard Digital Systems, manufacturer of digital printing systems for signage, decor, corporate, industrial and packaging sectors, a home in Europe.
We were told that Vanguard Europe’s next-generation UV flatbed printer, the VK3220T-HS, would be unveiled at FESPA Munich.
Then it was on to Durst’s gallery of history, where we saw examples of Durst’s past technology, before being led to the factory floor where the company’s engineers were building machines from the ground up. The huge industrial CNC machines, which allow popular choice for printers to pick and choose what they want to add to the core unit, are built on site at Durst to ensure that every part of fabrication and manufacture are controlled by engineers.
We then moved on to the Customer Experience Centre where one of the technology highlights was the P5 350 HSR – a 3.5m LED roll-to-roll model that achieves print speeds up to 670 square metres per hour and was launched at FESPA Munich.
It was incredible to see the range of ceramic tiles samples on display too – these are the products of the industrial digital ceramic tile printing systems Durst GAMMA.
EXCURSIONS AND EXPERIENCES
As well as an extensive tour of the Durst premises, we were provided with comfortable contemporary accommodation, exquisite meals and experienced a walking tour of the city, followed by the Durst-sponsored Watertight Festival. A visit to the Bergisel Olympic ski jump in Innsbruck and dinner at the historic 400-year-old Auracher Löchl in Kufstein, with its secret cave bar, on the way back to Munich ended the two-day excursion on a high note.
And the camaraderie didn’t end there –throughout the four days of FESPA, when we bumped into each other, we felt a closeness and a kind of ‘Durst’ler’ connection.
TESTIMONIALS FROM THE GROUP
When asked about the two-day Durst experience, this was what each ‘tour member’ had to say:
Blair Signs and Print’s Aaron Grigg:
“The whole experience in itself was amazing. It was great meeting like-minded people in the industry and just to see the technology and innovation and how Durst produces its machines was incredible. I'm still digesting it all.”
Vivad's Ewan Donaldson:
“It was like we had found the golden tickets to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, except better, as this was Durst’s factory.
“If you are going to go on a tour, then what better way than to hang out with like-minded people who share a love of all things large format. What better place to be than at the forefront of large format digital print technology, with the aroma of freshly cured UV ink against the background of snow-capped peaks of the Northern Italian Alps.
“Matt, Julian and the team from Durst were the most hospitable hosts you could imagine; we were wined and dined, shown the sites and treated like royalty.
“The highlight of the trip was the tour of the Durst factory where we witnessed the making of the world’s finest quality printers. How we drooled over the latest models and salivated at the speed and quality of their respective output.
“I had to refrain from channelling my inner Veruca Salt, 'I want an Oompa Loompa daddy, I want one now!'
“We laughed, we cried, and we shared the moments over a Hugo or two, which is a local cocktail of the region, and then it was time to return to the Bavarian capital for the main event being FESPA.
“Thank you to my travelling companions and newfound friends, thank you Matt and Julian and thank you Durst – your magenta’s worth bottling.”
Colourtech's Alasdair and Kim Wilson
“Colourtech has been using Durst’s services for over 15 years. Its print machines are very reliable but if there are issues, support is readily available instantly, which is very important for any business production.
“Matt, Julian and Durst were great hosts in Brixen with attention to detail in regard to our accommodation, local tours of the townships, amazing dinner experiences –nothing was ever too much trouble.
“The factory tour was a great reflection of what a great company Durst is. This was particularly helpful for us since we live on the other side of the world.
“Matt arranged for Alasdair and me to arrive a day earlier in Brixen – Mauritz from Hotel Pupp, where we stayed, looked after us until the group arrived, and the hotel itself was second to none.
“The tour of Durst Brixen is a wonderful experience and a great insight into how small and medium sized businesses are integral in local economies – European companies are leaders of the world in this regard, it is an honour for Colourtech to be involved with such a great company as Durst.
“The employees were happy, engaged and more than willing to answer any questions we had – adding to the wonderful experience.
“We look forward to continuing our relationship with Durst long into the future – 10/10 Mr Ashman!”
IVE's Bianca Martin:
“A new and shiny relationship with Durst really kickstarted when I joined the board of FESPA Australia. We have also recently commissioned a new P5 which is operating in our soft signage factory at IVE.
“The factory itself was absolutely mind blowing – I was like a kid in a candy store and came away with a highly valued sample kit and a huge smile on My face. The precision that is displayed from the fabrication of parts through to the assembly onsite and seeing the supporting software is such an impressive sight to see and gives one such a strong level of assurance and awe. I can see why Durst is regarded as one of the premier suppliers in the wide format development space.
“The whole experience that Matt facilitated was fantastic with a real taste of the town coming through. The two days were definitely a highlight of my trip.
“The people we had on the trip were just legendary – special thanks to Matt, Julian, and Kai.”
Carr Group's Kai Hennig:
“As a supplier of wide and grand format print media, we ensure our substrates run well on our customers’ print equipment. A large portion of our print partners run Durst kit, so it makes sense to stay up to date with the latest technologies that Durst has on offer. What better way than to go on the factory tour and visit the customer experience centre.”
Carr Group's John Carr:
“A visit to Durst is so much more than a factory visit. Matt and Julian did an outstanding job in immersing us in the culture of Durst and where they’re located. It’s easy to see why their customers are so positive about their journey with Durst.”
Ancyn Screen and Digital Printers’ Mark Brooks:
“I couldn't imagine a better start to FESPA. The group, which started out as strangers, got along really well and we’ve become friends because of the experience we shared. Matt and Julian were brilliant hosts and it was amazing to visit the Durst factory and see the machines in operation, and how they are built. The professionalism, the engineering and the work that goes behind the machines is incredible and you can see the pride in all the workers at Durst. The building is sensational, the architecture is completely unique and the surrounding views are stunning. ”
M-Power's Ambrin Naaz Begum:
“From the moment I stepped into the Durst facility, I was captivated by the seamless fusion of innovation and precision. The state-of-the-art machinery and cuttingedge technologies developed by Durst are truly awe-inspiring. Witnessing their commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the field of digital printing reaffirmed my belief in the transformative power of technology.
“What impressed me even more than the incredible technology was the remarkable team behind it all. The dedication, expertise, and passion exhibited by every member of the Durst team were truly exceptional. It was evident that they had a genuine love for what they do. I loved engaging with the team, exchanging insights, and learning from their wealth of knowledge. Their willingness to share their expertise and their enthusiasm in discussing the intricacies of digital printing was truly inspiring.
“I would like to extend my gratitude to the entire Durst team for their warm welcome and for providing me with such an enriching experience. In particular, Matt and Julian – their openness, generosity, and commitment to excellence were evident in every aspect of my visit. I am truly honored to have been given the opportunity to witness firsthand the brilliance behind Durst's operations.
“I am sincerely grateful to the entire Durst team for their hospitality, expertise, and the opportunity they provided for me to be a guest at this organisation.”
As for me, while I observed the interactions and enjoyed all the experiences, I came away somehow changed with the intrinsic realisation that we all thrive and flourish when there is shared connection, commonality, learning and inspiration. I will be forever grateful for the experience. Thank you, Matt, Julian, Durst and the group!
Also said by Ashman is that being a ‘Durst-ler’ is “a phrase that we extend to our customers” and after this unforgettable experience, we were all made to feel as if we truly were part of the existing dynamic and hard-working ‘Durst’ler’ family and community.
