Vanguard Europe has opened its new headquarters and customer demo centre in Brixen, Italy. A subsidiary of Vanguard Digital Printing Systems Corp, based in Georgia, USA, Vanguard Europe staff are now based adjacent to Durst’s headquarters in the 5,300m2 ‘Kraftwerk’ premises officially unveiled in September.
Vanguard Europe has set its sights on becoming a leader in the digital flatbed and UV production entry- and mid-level markets by replicating sales successes of its parent company and by utilizing the global reach of its resellers, distributors and other partners. Target sectors for Vanguard Europe include signage, decoration, corporate industrial and packaging. Since it was set up less than a year ago, more than 25 installations of digital flatbed systems have taken place across Europe.
Last month’s Viscom Italia in Milan proved to be a highly successful show for Vanguard Europe where details of its expanding product portfolio were unveiled. Latest products are the VR6D-HS and VK300D-HS UV flatbed machines covering the mid-and high end-range performance spectrum, which had their first public showing at Fespa Global in May.
Vanguard Europe has the biggest area in Kraftwerk, the incubator for Durst group start-ups and spin-offs, where there is a training academy, presentation suite, dedicated media company specializing in BTB video and storytelling, a film studio, plus assembly / storage areas and offices.
Vanguard Europe is currently led by Fabian Sottsas, who has worked for the last 20 years with Durst, which acquired Vanguard Digital Printing Systems two years ago. Alongside him is Yiannis Apostolidis, business development director.
Sottsas said: “We have had an extremely strong start and organically grown the business thanks to a solid relationship between our core staff, distributors and resellers. 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.”
Apostolidis added: “Formed seven years ago when only one printer was sold in the first 12 months, what a transformation it has been. Now Vanguard Digital Printing Systems is producing over 200 machines a year, and we are determined to replicate that success in Europe. We expect to make more announcements soon.”
