Kicking off the partnership at the SPA’s 110th conference last month, the finishing equipment manufacturer’s sales team accepted the company’s membership certificate on behalf of their colleagues.
New on the team is Robert Jess, formerly of the US-based Baysek Machines, who took up his role across packaging and finishing sales in early January.
“It’s a hybrid role, with about half my time on corrugate, folding carton converting equipment that we represent,” explained Jess.
“The remaining half will be helping Martin Howells on the packaging machines. I’ve been in the corrugated industry for the last nine years, so I can bring a lot of experience from that element. Friedheim has a lot of brands under its umbrella, so it’s a very exciting time and I’m very much looking forward to it.”
"Considering we’re less well known in the corrugated sector, we knew we needed more support after the recent retirement of John Harrison," Howard Cherry, national sales manager of Friedheim's finishing division told Printweek.
"We have interesting products to offer the sector – Young Shin installations have been extremely well received and we knew there were more opportunities waiting for us, we knew the Sheet Plant Association could help us start those conversations. Robert Jess came from this industry so it looked like it would be a good fit and so far it’s been a promising start to the year."
While Jess has already “hit the ground running” with the corrugated machinery, especially with the Young Shin brand of die-cutters, he said he was looking forward hugely to getting his teeth stuck into the folding carton sector.
“I’m looking forward to learning more about the machines, it’s brilliant,” he said.
“In my previous role at [the US-based] Baysek, I had to be a bit of a lone wolf – whereas now I’m more part of a team, which is a refreshing change. It’s great to have so much support, and everyone’s been very accommodating so far, it’s been the perfect start.”
Friedheim closed a flurry of deals at the end of last year, securing distribution rights for Heripack and Tecnau kit, following a deal to distribute GUK kit made in the summer.
