Grauf took up the new role today (1 March). He previously spent 21 years working at Agfa, most recently as country and sales manager for its inkjet products.
US-headquartered Inkcups secured investment from private equity firm MPE Partners at the beginning of the year to support its global growth ambitions, and Grauf’s appointment is part of its plan to scale up its presence in Europe.
Inkcups specialises in equipment for printing onto difficult-to-print items and materials such as cylindrical and tapered glassware, as well as promotional products including pens and edibles.
It makes a range of UV inkjet and pad printers for different applications and production volumes from print-on-demand to industrial volumes, with prices from £50,000 to £500,000.
Grauf was fulsome in his praise for Agfa's support during his career thus far.
“I’ve had a fantastic time at Agfa, which is a great company, but it’s the right time for me to move on to take up this new opportunity,” Grauf said, and quipped: “My dad worked for Agfa too so I’ve actually been with Agfa since I was nine or 10!”
He said he was excited about the future opportunities in his new role.
“Inkcups has a unique value proposition and people can make money with it. It’s much more than an exciting product that no-one else has – the business model of our customers is so interesting, they create attachment to an everyday object through print.”
Inkcups currently has 125 systems installed in Europe at 60 customers. The firm’s European HQ is in Freudenberg, Germany and it plans to scale up its presence to grow sales and support customers in key European markets.
Grauf said the business would take a “targeted, regional approach” and he would be expanding its European team accordingly with a number of new recruits this year.
Jørgen Vad, the former managing director of Agfa UK, has been working as a strategic consultant for Inkcups since the autumn of 2018 to help the firm plan its ramp up in the region.
He will continue as a strategic adviser to the business.
“I won’t be in the way of Bobby, my part is successfully completed now,” Vad said.
Inkcups customers include Cimpress, Adidas, Mattel, Fruit of the Loom, and Personalization Mall.
The firm will be exhibiting at the upcoming Fespa Global Expo show taking place in Berlin from 31 May - 3 June.
