Durst has increased its production area at its Lienz factory in Austria to 5600m2, where the new Rho 600 flatbed inkjet printer and the new Rhopac dedicated packaging inkjet printer are being manufactured. The expansion effectively doubles its size, and upgrades the facility to a state-of-the-art, high-tech location.

A total of 4.6 million Euros have been invested into the Lienz location by Durst Image Technology, the second branch of Durst Phototechnik AG located at Brixen, of which around 3.5 million Euros have been spent on new buildings and high-tech production equipment.

At the same time manpower has increased from 12 employees, when the factory was started in 1999, to 71 employees. An average of 5.5 % of the sales volume is re-invested into research funding the in house R&D department. In addition, millions of Euros have been invested into clean-rooms and laboratory equipment. This clearly shows that Durst Lienz is not just an offshoot of the parent company, but has the strength to stand alone.

The new production facilities are placed within an area of 3,150m2 and feature kanban and rail-based production lines, which are very similar to the modern production lines seen in the automotive industry. Production lines are integrated into the workflow, with short transport routes; materials are supplied sideways, tailored to the needs of each workstation; there are no storehouses, only stock in process and all is well lit and fully air conditioned ≈| of course.

These investments contribute to the fact that Durst has risen to the position of the world≈fs leading manufacturer of large format inkjet printers with a 30% share of the world market. Durst has also become a leader in terms of innovation, being the first company to introduce white as a digital colour as well as making gloss lacquer available for print. Recently, the 3rd generation of flatbed printers, with their very own print heads started manufacture; these print heads are also made in the new class C clean-rooms at the Lienz site. The very high innovation rate is based on the high investment awarded the product development department, (approx. 5.5% of the sales volume that has grown to 30 million Euros). The growing R&D department has obtained new premises in the course of expansion of the facility, which cost around 500,000 Euros. In these brand new laboratories; size, flight path, form and flight time of drops can be analyzed through high resolution video technology ≈| providing the basis for ink development and quality enhancement in print layout. The fact that the Austrian Federal Chamber has awarded Durst ≈gAustria≈fs Most Innovative Business Company≈h in 2005 shows once again that Durst can be proud of this department.

≈gUnlike our competitors in the USA and Israel,≈h said Dr Richard Piock, CEO of the Durst Group, gwe produce print heads which we can actuate and control more precisely, so that our printers achieve significantly better printing results and printing speeds. This is critical, as was proven at Fespa 2005 exhibition in Munich at the beginning of June. The number of orders we received were so overwhelming, that we cancelled the scheduled August factory holiday and, despite working overtime and even part of Saturdays, we are fully committed until the end of the year.

Essentially,≈h adds Mr. Schneider, Vice President of Durst Lienz, the modern mechanical equipment with CNC triggered machining centres and the high educational level of our employees are also contributory factors. After all, 11% of our employees have academic degrees and most have a high school diploma. This makes it easier to cope with the high innovation rate and the fast increasing complexity of technology.≈h

As a company, Durst is in an extremely healthy state, despite the rather weak world economical situation. This is made apparent by the fact that the expansion of the plant was entirely self-financed. The company≈fs impressive financial results are further proof; the sales volume has increased by a factor of 7 in five years, and maintained a two digit profit margin.

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Tony Wheeler
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