Simon Biddlecombe, who has recently joined the company in the newly created role, has moved from Kettering-based Sterling Press where he was workflow systems manager with experience of Tharstern MIS and Prinect production modules.

Paul Chamberlain, Heidelberg’s Prinect business driver, said: “Simon is doing a lot of training courses at the moment and getting to grips with the day-to-day lifestyle of Heidelberg and how it works differently to the trade and from a production point of view.

“There are also a lot of new products, especially since Drupa, and he’s got to get to grips with those from a Prinect point of view, especially Business Manager MIS, which is something he feels particularly passionate about.”

Chamberlain said more of Heidelberg’s customers are seeking the company’s help in this area and Biddlecombe’s appointment will help it to meet increasing demand.

“At Drupa, Heidelberg showed printers just how automated their businesses could become and Prinect is a critical element because today printers are handling so many more jobs.

“As runs get lower, the administration and control of work from order to delivery becomes more and more critical. Integration and the ability to link business and production processes and to manage offset litho and digital production (including colour control) with equal ease is vital.”

Biddlecombe will operate from his home near Kettering and his time will be split between demonstration, training and on-site workflow implementation.

Biddlecombe said: “Coming from a printing background means I understand the benefits workflows can bring and how they work in practice. As an integrator I also appreciate the need to create systems with least disruption to the daily running of the business.”