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Brotech hires Bernardo Oliveira Errecart

Selah Zighelboim — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 18:34:17 +0000

Brotech Europe has appointed Bernardo Oliveira Errecart as its new technical support manager, based in Barcelona.

He brings more than 25 years of experience in the printing, labeling and packaging industries, with expertise in field service, technical support, customer training and industrial automation.

As Brotech continues to expand across Europe, particularly with the introduction of its FFX AI Flexo platform, local technical capability is becoming increasingly important.

Errecart will play a key role in supporting European customers, managing technical activities at Brotech's Barcelona Demo Center, and handling customer demonstrations and testing, training, installation and after-sales support.

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Brotech hires Bernardo Oliveira Errecart

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Bernardo Oliveira Errecart is Brotech Europe's new technical support manager, based in Barcelona.

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Bernardo Oliveira Errecart is Brotech Europe's new technical support manager, based in Barcelona.

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Armor-IIMAK appoints André as CEO

Piotr Wnuk — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 22:33:00 +0000

Armor-IIMAK has appointed Christophe André as chief executive officer, effective September 1, 2026, succeeding Christian Lefort, who will retire at the end of November 2026 after five years leading the global thermal transfer ribbon manufacturer.

The transition has been prepared in coordination with the group's shareholders, with Lefort supporting André through a handover period until his retirement.

André brings extensive experience in international industrial leadership across the chemical and materials industries. An engineering graduate of Télécom Paris with additional degrees from ESSEC and INSEAD, he began his career at Nortel Networks before joining Rohm and Haas, where he served as managing director for EMEA of the Packaging and Converting division. After four years at Arjowiggins, he joined Arkema in 2012, holding several senior leadership roles over nearly ten years and becoming a member of the group executive committee. He joins Armor-IIMAK from Vynova Group, where he served as chairman and CEO for the past five years.

'I am very pleased to join Armor-IIMAK and excited to contribute to the next phase of its development,' said André. 'My ambition is to strengthen the company's leadership by leveraging innovation, entrepreneurial agility, and the exceptional expertise of our teams, all in service of our customers and partners. My priority will be to meet with our teams and engage with our markets to listen and understand what makes Armor-IIMAK strong and clearly identify our customers' expectations. I deeply believe in the power of teamwork. Together, we will write the next chapter in Armor-IIMAK's history.'

'These five years at the helm of Armor-IIMAK have been a tremendous industrial and personal journey,' said Lefort. 'I step down with great confidence in the company's future. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all employees for their dedication, energy, and trust. I am pleased to hand over the reins to Christophe André. His international background, his knowledge of the chemical industry, and his team-oriented approach will be invaluable assets in continuing this momentum.'

Armor-IIMAK operates across five continents with 30 locations and customers in more than 100 countries, including a recently established presence in Australia, its first in Oceania.

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Armor-IIMAK appoints André as CEO

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Christophe André succeeds Christian Lefort as thermal transfer ribbon specialist names new leader.

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Christophe André succeeds Christian Lefort as thermal transfer ribbon specialist names new leader.

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Sandon Global strengthens global sales team

Akanksha Meena — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 12:25:41 +0000

British anilox manufacturer Sandon Global has strengthened its UK and international sales team with the appointment of Stuart Williams as regional sales manager – UK and Ireland and the move of Paul Mitchell into a new strategic business development manager role focused on the Americas.

Williams took up his position on September 1, 2026, while Mitchell assumed responsibility for developing and managing the company’s regional growth strategy.

The changes form part of Sandon Global’s strategy for the next stage of the business, with service at the forefront. Following the challenging period resulting from the fire at its Runcorn facility, the company has strengthened its processes, reassessed its business continuity plans and is investing in its people and resources to support customers and future growth.

Williams brings extensive experience across print, flexographic pre-press and technical sales. He began his career with a four-year apprenticeship at G&H in lithographic printing before moving into artwork and pre-press roles. He subsequently spent more than 10 years with YRG Group, developing his expertise in flexographic platemaking and pre-press, before becoming sales manager in 2018, with responsibility for business development across multiple print and packaging sectors.

As regional sales manager – UK and Ireland, Williams will develop customer relationships and support Sandon Global’s growth across the UK and Irish markets, drawing on his experience in pre-press, platemaking and print.

Jake Roberts, sales director at Sandon Global, said: ‘We are delighted to welcome Stuart to the team. He brings a wealth of experience from across the print, pre-press and flexographic sectors, and has an excellent reputation in the market. Just as importantly, Stuart’s approach and personality are a very good fit for our business. We are a relationship-led company and value people who are technically knowledgeable, approachable and committed to doing the right thing for our customers.

‘Stuart joins us at an important point in our development. The past period has undoubtedly been challenging, but it has also given us the opportunity to look closely at how we operate and make positive changes that will strengthen the business longer term. We are investing in our team and putting service firmly at the forefront of our strategy. The changes are an important part of that.’

Mitchell’s new role will enable Sandon Global to build on the strong relationships he has developed across the Americas while making greater use of his technical knowledge and experience in inks and coatings. His primary responsibility will be to improve service levels and product accessibility for customers and partners while supporting the company’s growth across the region.

The new global sales team brings together specialist expertise in key areas of the flexographic print and packaging process, giving customers access to technical and commercial support across their operations.

Mike Baines, print, brings technical expertise and practical print knowledge, supporting customers with print performance and process-related requirements.

Paul Mitchell, inks and coatings, has specialist knowledge of ink and coating systems, developing opportunities and supporting customers across the Americas.

Daniel Niehues, print sleeves, has technical expertise across Sandon Global’s sleeves, supporting customers and partners across the European market.

Tinku Sharma, printing and packaging, has in-depth knowledge of flexographic printing and flexible packaging, supporting customers and agents across India, South Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

Stuart Williams, repro and plates, has extensive experience in repro, pre-press and flexographic platemaking, providing technical sales support across the UK and Ireland.

Williams said: ‘In my discussions with the Sandon Global team, what stood out was the company’s culture, ethics and way of doing business, which closely matches my own values. I have spent my career in print, pre-press and flexographic platemaking, so the opportunity to bring that experience to Sandon was a natural fit. Sandon’s reputation as both a leading UK supplier and a globally recognized leader in anilox technology made it an opportunity I couldn’t ignore.

‘I’m looking forward to joining the team, building relationships with Sandon’s customers across the UK and Ireland and contributing to the company’s next stage of development.’

Roberts added: ‘This is the start of a new chapter. We are strengthening our team, investing in the future and, above all, making sure that our customers and partners receive the quality and level of service they expect from Sandon Global.’

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Sandon Global strengthens global sales team

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The changes form part of Sandon Global’s strategy for the next stage of the business, with service at the forefront.

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The changes form part of Sandon Global’s strategy for the next stage of the business, with service at the forefront.

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Wikoff appoints Sachin Nayar as CTO

Selah Zighelboim — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 14:22:48 +0000

Wikoff has appointed Sachin Nayar as chief technology officer, effective September 1, 2026.

Nayar, who joined Wikoff in December 2024 as vice president of research and development, will continue to report directly to president and CEO Mark Lewis. The new role reflects the growing strategic importance of technology and innovation to Wikoff's business and customers.

'Sachin's leadership has helped elevate our R&D organization into a strategic driver of innovation and growth,' said Lewis. 'His appointment as chief technology officer reinforces the importance of technology to our strategy and ensures innovation remains focused on customer needs and long-term growth.'

Since joining Wikoff, Nayar has led the ongoing transformation of the company's R&D function by establishing centers of excellence that unite technical expertise from across the company, sharpening the organization's focus on new product development and strengthening regulatory and formulation discipline.

Nayar brings more than 20 years of experience across the inks, coatings, pigment dispersions and specialty chemicals industries. Prior to Wikoff, he served as director of ink innovation at BIC Corporation, where he led the development of clean-chemistry stationery inks. He began his career developing inkjet ink platforms at Eastman Kodak Company before advancing to global technical leadership roles at AkzoNobel and PPG Industries. He holds a PhD in chemistry from North Carolina State University.

'Wikoff has a strong technical foundation and a significant opportunity to lead through innovation,' said Nayar. 'I'm excited to keep building an R&D organization that works as one team, partners closely with our customers and commercial colleagues and turns great technical ideas into solutions that create lasting value.'

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Wikoff appoints Sachin Nayar as CTO

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Nayar brings more than 20 years of experience across the inks, coatings, pigment dispersions and specialty chemicals industries.

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Nayar brings more than 20 years of experience across the inks, coatings, pigment dispersions and specialty chemicals industries.

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Provident hires Jay Engels

Selah Zighelboim — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 13:49:22 +0000

Provident has expanded its regional support team with the appointment of Jay Engels as technical sales representative for the Midwest and Central Plains. Based in Appleton, Wisconsin, Engels will manage customer relations and technical support across Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota and the Dakotas, bringing nearly 35 years of print operations proficiency to the newly unified organization.

The appointment follows the 2025 merger of Provident and Precision Flexo & Gravure, a move designed to integrate doctor blade and end seal manufacturing with deep technical field service.

Engels transitions to the role from Press Color, where he served as a technical sales representative. His career spans the full spectrum of pressroom operations, including previous roles as an ink department manager, flexo plate mounter and press operator. This foundational experience in ink blending and troubleshooting allows Provident to further offer insights into diagnosing ink leakage in chambers and its impact on overall print quality.

'I am looking forward to working with the team,' said Engels. 'Over my 30 years in the industry, I have learned what it takes to deliver results, and I am eager to apply that experience to help with Provident’s success.'

The appointment aims to bridge the gap between product delivery and operational optimization. By leveraging Engels’ background in B2B sales of liquid and offset inks and coatings, the company intends to provide more comprehensive troubleshooting for its Midwest client base.

The integration of specialized ink knowledge into the Provident sales force marks a strategic shift toward holistic pressroom consultation. As the only fully integrated manufacturer of both doctor blades and end seals in the industry, the company’s ability to troubleshoot the interaction between hardware and chemistry is a critical component of its support model. Engels will be responsible for training customer employees on proper ink maintenance and resolving persistent print issues that often arise from mechanical or chemical imbalances.

Tim Allen, director of sales, noted that the internal team has already begun integrating Engels’ specialized knowledge.

'Our customers and internal teams will benefit from the wealth of ink knowledge Jay brings,' said Allen. 'We have already gained significant insights since his onboarding, and his presence will be invaluable in helping our customers optimize their pressroom and solve the technical challenges they face daily.'

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2 weeks ago

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Provident hires Jay Engels

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Engels will serve as technical sales representative for the Midwest and Central Plains.

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Engels will serve as technical sales representative for the Midwest and Central Plains.

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Ron Voigt appointed to Michelman board

Selah Zighelboim — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 16:46:30 +0000

Michelman has appointed Ron Voigt to its board of directors. Voigt is CEO of Hyperion Materials & Technologies, a global materials science company specializing in advanced hard and super-hard materials for industrial applications.

Voigt has extensive experience leading global business-to-business companies through growth and change. His work in materials science, manufacturing, commercial strategy and employee engagement aligns with Michelman's priorities as the company expands internationally.

'Ron has spent his career building global industrial businesses and helping teams turn strategy into measurable results,' said Steve Shifman, executive chairman of the board at Michelman. 'He asks direct questions, listens carefully and brings valuable perspective on how to build on our strengths as we expand into new markets and applications. That approach, along with his experience in growth and organizational change, will serve Michelman well.'

Voigt has served as CEO of Hyperion since 2018, driving growth through operational investment, new technologies and acquisitions, while emphasizing employee engagement. Previously, he was president of X-Rite Pantone, commercial president of Tektronix, and president, industrial automation at Kollmorgen. Earlier in his career, he held several positions at Delphi Automotive Systems and General Motors Corporation, most recently serving as divisional vice president and business unit director of the steering business unit within Delphi Steering.

'Michelman's combination of engineered solutions, global reach and a clear commitment to people, planet and profit made the board role a logical extension of the work I have done throughout my career,' said Voigt. 'I have been impressed by the candor of the board and leadership team and their willingness to look directly at where performance can improve and then act on it. I look forward to supporting Michelman's growth and working with an experienced group of leaders focused on continuous improvement.'

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2 weeks 4 days ago

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Ron Voigt appointed to Michelman board

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Voigt is CEO of Hyperion Materials & Technologies and has served in executive leadership roles at X-Rite Pantone, Tektronix and Kollmorgen.

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Voigt is CEO of Hyperion Materials & Technologies and has served in executive leadership roles at X-Rite Pantone, Tektronix and Kollmorgen.

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Nazdar names Edward Baiden CEO

Selah Zighelboim — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 19:05:41 +0000

Nazdar has appointed Edward (Ed) Baiden as president and CEO, effective September 8, 2026. Baiden succeeds Richard Bowles, who is retiring after more than 23 years of dedicated leadership and service to the company.

Baiden brings more than 25 years of global leadership experience across industrial and specialty materials businesses. He joins Nazdar from W R Grace, where he served as senior vice president, strategy, planning and transformation, leading enterprise strategy, commercial and operational transformation, technology management, and corporate development. Prior to Grace, he led PPG's global traffic solutions business, experience that aligns closely with Nazdar's focus on manufacturing excellence, innovation, technical expertise and customer partnerships.

Over a career that also includes roles at DuPont and GE, Baiden has run complex global businesses and built teams, with a track record of growth and lasting customer relationships.

'Following a thoughtful and thorough search, the board is confident we have selected a leader who will build upon Nazdar's strong foundation while positioning the company for its next chapter of growth,' said Jeff Thrall, executive chairman, on behalf of the TEI board. 'Ed's proven ability to lead global businesses and strengthen customer relationships makes him the right leader for Nazdar's future.'

Baiden said: 'I am honored to join Nazdar, a company with a century-long reputation for quality, innovation and strong partnership with its customers. I have deep respect for what Richard and the team have built, and I look forward to working alongside them to carry that legacy forward and lead Nazdar into its next chapter.'

Baiden and Bowles will work closely together through the leadership transition to ensure a smooth handoff for employees, customers, suppliers and business partners. Nazdar’s commitment to its customers remains unchanged, and the team is focused on ensuring a smooth transition.

Bowles' retirement caps a tenure during which he helped strengthen Nazdar's business, culture and reputation across the global printing industry.

'It has been a privilege to lead Nazdar and to work alongside such a dedicated team and loyal customers,' said Bowles. 'I am confident the company's best days are ahead, and I am pleased to help Ed step into this role for a smooth transition.'

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3 weeks 4 days ago

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Nazdar names Edward Baiden CEO

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Baiden succeeds Richard Bowles, who is retiring.

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Baiden succeeds Richard Bowles, who is retiring.

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A life of business

Adyasha Sinha — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 04:29:00 +0000

People 19 August 2026

A life of business

Fernando Gabel, former president of Latam, Central Europe and global M&A for All4Labels, talks about life, business and his newly formed consultancy.

Fernando Gabel, All4Labels’ former president for Latin America, Central Europe and global M&A, left the international converting group in 2025 to set up Vita Negotialis, a strategic advisory firm focused on supporting entrepreneurs, business families and multinational companies across Latin America.

With more than 15 years’ experience in senior leadership roles at Brazilian converter Baumgarten and All4Labels, and extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, Gabel believes he is well-placed to advise label converters and other companies on a variety of issues. These include operating in or entering the Latin American market, implementing governance in family-run businesses, succession planning and preparing companies for sale or acquisitions.

Baumgarten/All4Labels

Gabel, who joined in 2009, was a key figure in the creation of All4Labels through the 2016 merger of Baumgarten with German converters Rako and X-Label, before spearheading the group’s rapid expansion in Latin America via a spate of acquisitions. Later, he took on a similar brief for All4Labels in Central Europe and oversaw the group’s global M&A activity. During Gabel’s time at the company, it grew into a label and packaging behemoth with more than 50 production facilities, producing over 80 billion labels annually and generating annual revenue of around 1 billion USD.

Prior to the foundation of All4Labels, Gabel had led Baumgarten’s acquisitions of Autopack in Argentina and Etiquetas Rodak in Mexico in 2014. As president for Latin America at All4Labels, he was responsible for a number of additional M&A activities, with the group acquiring no fewer than 10 converters in Brazil over just two years, in 2022 and 2023. One of these, Flexo Print, included a facility in Paraguay. In 2023, the acquisition of AMF Etiquetas enabled All4Labels to establish its first presence in Chile.

Over the course of his career, Gabel has participated in more than 25 M&A transactions in Latin America and Europe. He cites helping to transform Baumgarten, alongside Ronaldo Baumgarten Jr, from a local company into a global business as his proudest professional achievement. The Brazilian converter, like Rako and X-Label prior to the formation of All4Labels, was a family-run business at the time of the merger.

“Latin America is a market that has its peculiarities and its ups and downs, but overall the trend is towards growth. You have to take a long-term approach”

After leaving All4Labels, Gabel took the opportunity to study before embarking on his next venture. He enrolled in a course at Harvard Business School aimed at corporate directors and board members, spent two weeks visiting technology and AI companies in Silicon Valley, and undertook board-member training and AI courses in São Paulo.

‘I wanted to reinvent myself, because the new venture is completely different,’ explains Gabel. ‘It was an amazing experience to be a student again. Studying at Harvard Business School was a huge learning opportunity.

‘And because the world is changing so fast thanks to AI, I wanted to spend some time immersing myself in that technology and trying to understand how it was affecting business. I knew it could be valuable to family-run businesses that are not always able to keep up with these developments.’

Vita Negotialis

Vita Negotialis is Latin for ‘A life of business’. ‘I have spent my life in business, and my family has an industrial background as well,’ he explains. The consultancy focuses on four ‘pillars’, says Gabel. ‘The first is the Latin American market – supporting companies who want to grow their presence here or who want to move into this market for the first time. The second is board-level assistance in implementing governance at family-run businesses. Third is a focus on M&A: helping companies prepare for sales or acquisitions. And the fourth is to act as a family advisor and to help manage the transition between different generations.’

A native of Brazil who is based in the southern state of Santa Catarina, Gabel has extensive knowledge of the Latin American market. ‘It can be a challenging region,’ he says. ‘It’s a huge market, but there can be issues with political and economic instability. I’m working with both companies that already have a presence in the region and want to improve or expand their business, and those looking to enter Latin America for the first time.

‘I can advise on acquisition targets and what you need to pay attention to when running a business in Latin America, the specifics of culture, workforce, inflation, currencies, unions and other things. It is a market with its peculiarities and ups and downs, but overall, the trend is towards growth. You have to take a long-term approach.’

Implementing governance and assisting with the professionalization of a family-run business, Vita Negotialis’ second pillar, are areas in which Gabel has extensive experience. It also feeds into the other two areas of the consultancy’s focus: preparing companies for mergers or acquisitions and acting as a family advisor for succession planning.

‘You have to prepare your company to be sold, rather than decide you want to sell,’ he says. ‘A business needs governance, management and continuity. You never know what might happen in the future, so succession planning is important.

“The label market is growing, and it still isn’t very consolidated”

‘I once worked with a company in Mexico. The owner was almost 80 and wanted to sell. He ran the business and was doing almost everything. He was directly responsible for 70 percent of the turnover. That kind of company is hard to sell, because if he isn’t there, it’s not the same company.

‘Putting an M&A strategy in place for your business, whatever your plans currently are, is a sensible move. The M&A process can take two or three years. For family businesses in particular, professionalization is often required to prepare for a sale.

‘You must respect the local culture. Everywhere is different. Every company has its own problems. If you acquire a company that you should not acquire, you are paying to have more problems.’

After a sale, too, integration of the business is crucial, says Gabel. ‘There needs to be a clear idea of how it will be run, what the reporting lines are, and how management will be integrated.’

A fifth area of focus for Vita Negotialis is currently in development. Having immersed himself in AI after completing a course in the subject, Gabel is a firm believer in its potential as a management tool for label converters. ‘Many family-run, mid-sized label converters are not doing sophisticated data collection and analysis,’ he says. ‘AI tools can help with data management.’

Prior to working in the label industry, Gabel spent more than two decades in the ceramics, metal-mechanical and truck trailer sectors. He is consulting for companies in these sectors, as well as for label converters, with the latter accounting for roughly half of his work since founding his consultancy in November 2025.

Latin American market

Gabel says he is always optimistic about the Latin American label market. ‘There are always opportunities,’ he emphasizes. ‘Mexico and Brazil are the two biggest markets that most companies are focused on. After them, Colombia has great potential. Central America is strong in certain sectors. Paraguay is booming thanks to low taxes and strong industrial growth.

‘Argentina and Chile have been struggling a little because they have large wine label markets and wine consumption has been declining.

‘Brazil has had some economic challenges in recent years. High interest rates don’t help investment. But it is a strong country, and lots of companies are investing here despite the challenges. If you pay attention to what you are doing, you can be successful. The label market is growing, and it still isn’t very consolidated.’

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Heidelberg appoints Burkhard as CFO

Piotr Wnuk — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 22:24:45 +0000

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen has appointed Christoph Burkhard as chief financial officer, effective October 1, 2026, replacing Volker Herdin, who will retire on September 30 after overseeing the handover transition.

Burkhard joins from construction equipment manufacturer Wacker Neuson, where he served as CFO until August 31, 2026. Prior to that, he was CFO at wind turbine manufacturer Nordex. In his new role, he will be responsible for finance, controlling, investor relations, mergers and acquisitions, accounting, legal, tax and information security.

Burkhard holds a Diplom-Kaufmann degree from the University of Tübingen and a Master of Science from the London School of Economics. He began his career as an analyst for the European Commission before roles at BHF Bank and Siemens Financial Services.

'In Mr. Burkhard, we have gained a CFO with extensive international experience who possesses excellent expertise in the areas of finance and investor relations,' said Dr Martin Sonnenschein, chairman of the supervisory board of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen. 'Mr. Burkhard has already demonstrated his ability to generate successful and sustainable cash flow at two publicly traded international engineering companies.'

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Heidelberg appoints Burkhard as CFO

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Former Wacker Neuson finance chief joins as Volker Herdin retires.

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Former Wacker Neuson finance chief joins as Volker Herdin retires.

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