Members in the News – November/December 2022

November 9, 2022

Durst Image Technology and Vanguard Digital Printing Systems received seven PRINTING United Alliance 2022 Pinnacle Product awards across multiple output device categories.

The following products won 2022 Pinnacle Product awards:

Durst P5 Tex iSub: awarded Roll-to-Roll Direct Disperse Ink on Textile category
Durst Delta SPC 130: awarded Single Pass printer category
Vanguard VR6D-HS: awarded UV/Latex Flatbed ($100,000–$200,000) category
Vanguard VR6D-HS: awarded UV/Latex Flatbed + White ($100,000–$200,000) category
Vanguard VR5D-E: awarded UV/Latex Flatbed (under $70,000) category
Vanguard VKH900-HS: awarded RTR/hybrid/flatbed new technology category
Vanguard VKR3200: awarded Roll-to-Roll UV (over 80 inches) category

“We are always happy to take part in the Pinnacle Product Award competition, as it allows us another opportunity to highlight our exciting technologies—and we couldn’t be more proud to have won so many awards this year,” said Becky McConnell, marketing manager of Durst North America.

Output devices are judged by measuring color charts and then comparing them to industry specifications. “This is the only competition I know of that reports on the percentage of Adobe RGB a printer can hit,” said Dawn Nye, program manager for the Pinnacle Awards at PRINTING United Alliance. “Some categories were decided by tenths of a point, so fierce was the competition this year.”

In other Durst news, Strafford, New Hampshire-based AMI Graphics became the first large-format print manufacturer in the U.S. to install a Durst P5 500i printer.

The P5 500i touts a “superwide” format with a printing width of 5.25 meters and double-sided printing, among other features.

“We are incredibly pleased that AMI has invested in the new P5 500i,” said Durst’s Larry D’Amico, director of sales, LFP and fabrics. “AMI purchased the P5 Tex iSub last year and have now added our new 5-meter printer to their fleet. … We are excited that AMI has validated their confidence in Durst with the purchase of a second device.”

The Royal Group (TRG) CEO Bob McIlvaine will retire at the end of this year, with Kevin Miller taking over as president and CEO to start 2023.

McIlvaine joined TRG in 1990, became president in 1995, and “has been instrumental to the success of TRG throughout his 32-year career,” according to a company news release.

Miller began his career with TRG in 2006 as a sales representative and left to run a consulting firm until his return in 2017. Since then, he has held numerous roles in the company, including vice president of business development, vice president and Mid-Atlantic general manager, and vice president and Eastern regional general manager, and president.

“Kevin has excelled in every role assigned to him, most notably his current role as president,” said Schwarz. “The Schwarz family is excited to have Kevin as CEO and expect our success to continue with his leadership. Bob and Kevin have built a great team in TRG and worked seamlessly on this transition. We will miss Bob’s tenured leadership and are confident in Kevin and the management team’s ability to lead us to further success.”

Craig Sergent

In other TPG news, the company hired Craig Sergent as general manager of Progress Container, which TRG recently acquired.

Sergent comes to TPG and Progress with 12 years of sales and management experience in the industry.

Regarding the hire TRG President and CEO Kevin Miller said, “Craig brings an impressive blend of energy and experience. He is a natural leader with an infectious personality, a truly perfect fit for our company and culture we’ve established.”

Bay Cities started its fourth sustainability initiative of 2022 by partnering with Homeboy Industries for electronics waste (e-waste) disposal.

All Bay Cities’ e-waste will be transferred and properly disposed of or reused where applicable, according to a company news release.

“Our team is looking forward to continuing our partnership with Homeboy industries,” said Jesus Ortiz, Bay Cities’ sustainability and safety coordinator. “We are excited about this journey and excited to support the message Homeboy Industries seeks to achieve and obtain.”

eProductivity Software (ePS) will hold its annual user conference, CONNECT, at the Wynn Las Vegas January 23–26.

“I am excited about how our vision will present itself at CONNECT 2023 with a broad range of sponsors and exhibitors as well as a notable panel of keynote speakers that span the globe and relevant topics to print and packaging,” said ePS CEO Gabriel Matsliach.

CONNECT 2023 lineup of keynotes includes: