Neil Williams, who started in the role on 1 December, has spent more than 30 years in the printing and packaging industries, working for companies including Sericol, Fujifilm, Inca, and more recently EFI.

He will be working closely with local sales, service, supply, and logistics teams as well as Durst Group headquarters staff in Brixen, Italy, and at its other major manufacturing location in Lienz, Austria.

Living in north-west England, Williams’ responsibility covers the Durst press portfolio as well Durst software, support service, and other integration packages. He has already been visiting customers and has undergone extensive training at both manufacturing locations.

Durst UK and Ireland managing director Peter Bray said: “Neil will be an integral part of our team that provides customers everything they need – from pixel to output – to be successful in the printing and packaging industry.

“With a wealth of experience in the packaging and print sectors, we are delighted to welcome him to the Durst family. At the same time, I want to put on record our sincere thanks for Richard’s significant contribution to the UK and Ireland business for almost a decade. We wish him a long and happy retirement.”

Williams added: “Durst is the recognised market leader and I look forward to introducing its broad product portfolio, software, and support services to new clients, as well as continuing to build relationships with its impressive customer base.

“I work on the ethos of giving full support to the customer. When that is done successfully, they come back again for a second, third or even more machines and services. Durst’s brand sells itself and I am looking forward to the opportunities ahead with a company that is constantly pushing the boundaries in terms of solutions.”

Williams is currently working alongside Bates who is handing over until 31 December, when he will retire after 46 years in the printing industry.

Richard Bates will retire at the end of this month

Bates started out with a five-year apprenticeship as a scanner operator for a repro company. He then moved into sales at the age of 21, with litho plate manufacturer Horsell, and subsequently joined Scitex in the late 1980s, where he worked for 10 years and became UK sales manager.

After wanting to do so for some time, he started his own company in the late 1990s, Premier Integrated Solutions Supplies, which sold hardware and consumables such as proofing materials.

Bates told Printweek: “I loved that because it was called PISS! I had an awfully plummy accountant and when we came up with the name [he pointed out the abbreviation] and I said ‘yes, that is exactly why we want it!”

That business merged with NCS Group a few years later, forming a nationwide pre-press and digital distribution group.

Bates later worked for HP and finally moved to Durst, where he has spent the last nine and a half years of his career.

“I really do like Durst, I think they are a very nice, caring, honourable European company, and a stylish company in their head office in Brixen. They have a nice demeanour and way about them and so I fitted in great because I like that,” he said.

“They are a forward-thinking company and really do try their upmost with the technology, they are always evolving things, the build quality is second to none and the output of the machines is terrific.”

Bates added that after nearly half a century in print, he has “seen and dealt with some real heavyweights in the industry”.

“I saw some of the big web boys operating and then come and go unfortunately, and then the repro companies took a dive and dropped out of the market, and now unfortunately the printer market and the litho sector has taken a real pounding, and it’s more now to do with digital integration and asset management and that side of it.

“I’ve dealt with a real cross section of people and been to all the shows; I’ve had ups and downs like anything in this world but this industry has been good to me.”

Bates said he would “thoroughly enjoy myself” in his retirement, travelling, and spending time on his hobbies – which include cycling, skiing, and golf, and with his two grandchildren.

He celebrated his retirement on Tuesday (14 December) with colleagues at a dinner hosted by Bray.