Effective 5 th January 2004 Graham Evans joins Durst UK as Managing Director designate.

Managing Director, Mike Allen, said. "The plan is that there will be a practicable hand-over period whilst I remain Managing Director until around the end of March 2004. I will then effectively retire from full time employment with the company with Graham assuming the position."
What has prompted this move? "My purpose in suggesting this proposal to the board, is for health reasons," stated Mike. "I feel that my health is declining to an extent where I believe I am not able to give my job the 100 percent it needs and deserves. It is therefore better to plan for a smooth change over in a controlled fashion to a younger person with different skills expertise and experience."
Graham's extensive industry experience includes working for Coates Screen Inks, Rastergraphics and currently with HP Indigo. His fresh outlook, supported by an in-depth knowledge will enable Durst UK to go forward into existing and different market places whilst maximising the benefits of the recent Coates Screen marketing agreement. Graham is married with a family of two young children.

Graham commented: "I am both proud and excited to be joining a company with such an incomparable position and reputation in the imaging market. They offer a history of pioneering innovation coupled with exceptional levels of customer support and service." My role will be to maintain their dramatic growth in existing markets whilst developing the wider marketing opportunities provided by Durst's new range of digital equipment."
Mike Allen's planned departure from Durst UK draws to a close one of the company's most challenging and changing periods. Mike joined whilst Durst UK was a manufacturing facility, he masterminded the change into a Sales and Service organisation, the adoption of the enthusiast range of products, was there at the start of the digital revolution and was instrumental in the break-though success of the Durst Lambda laser printer. With the exception of the US, The UK has more sites operating the Lambda than anywhere else in the world. More recently, Mike was responsible for introducing the Durst Rho 160, direct to media, inkjet press to the UK, once again, with great success. The Rho is now in a market leading position with 14 machines operating in the UK and an already expectant market for the new models just added to the range.

Mike leaves Durst UK in a healthy and very optimistic position, we wish him well with his future and are sure that Graham will build on Mike's achievements and take the team at Durst UK forward.