The Vanguard Europe operation occupies three-quarters of the 5,300sqm ‘Kraftwerk’ facility, which is next door to the Durst Group HQ in Brixen, northern Italy.

The European operation currently has 10-staff operating out of the Brixen facility and has an installed base of more than 25 machines on the continent. However, the business has set its sights on replicating the success of its US parent which sold one machine in its maiden year seven years ago and now manufactures 200.

“We have had an extremely strong start and organically grown the business thanks to a solid relationship between our core staff, distributors and resellers,” said Vanguard Europe head Fabian Sottsas.

“With unlimited passion at the forefront of global technology, we are working to grow business together with customers within entry- and mid-level markets.

“We are providing true digital flatbed and UV production printers from a company in the Durst Group that are designed in the US and assembled in Europe.”

Durst acquired Vanguard two years ago, launching the Lawrenceville, Georgia manufacturer's wide-format printers into Europe at last year's Fespa in Amsterdam.

The Italian group's Kraftwerk facility operates as a Durst incubator facility for inhouse spin offs and start-ups. The facility opened in early September.

As well as Vanguard Europe, Kraftwerk is home to the Durst Academy training centre, 3D/AM print specialist Adddam, additive manufacturing start-up D3-AM, and DMC (Durst Media Company), an agency specialising in B2B marcomms.