Sam Ward, who started in the role around a month ago, has come to Koenig & Bauer from Arden Dies, where he was technical sales manager. Before that he worked for Highcon as a customer success advisor, while working on the other side of the fence prior to that, including for Linney as a post-press machine operator in both conventional and digital packaging production, and for Smurfit Kappa.

Ward said that his background means he is acutely aware of the pressures of production and where Koenig & Bauer’s technology focus on efficiency and streamlining can benefit.

“Obviously, the pull of the name Koenig & Bauer was a large part of the appeal of this role for me, but the company vision was even more significant; the fact that Koenig & Bauer is dedicated to being a one-stop shop for print and packaging efficiency,” he said.

“I sometimes feel that the industry doesn’t give post-press all the respect it’s due, considering that it is fundamental to the overall success of a job. Having started at the bottom, I know how much skill is involved in this work.

“Koenig & Bauer’s belief in end-to-end efficiency throughout the entire production chain means that every process carries the same weight and receives the same focus. This is a key technology differentiator and I’m eager to help customers understand this.”

Chris Scully, managing director of Koenig & Bauer UK, also commented: “Sam’s experience, going right back to his time in production at Smurfit Kappa and Linney, means that he really has a personal connection to the people who can benefit from our finishing solutions.

“He has great insight into the issues they deal with and where the pinch points can occur. At Koenig & Bauer we pride ourselves on being able to embed ourselves into the production scenario at each customer and think creatively to find a unique solution. I have every confidence that Sam is exactly the right person for this job.”