Page 34 - Print 21 Magazine Jul-Aug 2020

Embellishment
Kurz celebrating
established by Leonhard Kurz in Germany in the 1890s as a gold leaf beater for bookbinding companies. Leonhard’s son, Dr Herbert Kurz, took over and led its post-war boom. The current CEO, Walter Kurz,
has been with the business for five decades, along with his brother Peter, with Andreas, Walter’s son, currently on his way to the top.
The company’s global turnover continues to rise and is now $1bn. Its staff numbers reflect a growing business. Six years ago, when current Australia CEO Stephen Pratt joined the business, there were 4000 people on the Kurz payroll, today there are 5800.
Kurz entered Australia 50 years ago this month. In the half- century since, the business has firmly established itself as the key player in the market. Stephen Pratt says Australian print businesses appreciate the knowledge, innovation and commitment of Kurz. “Our customers are not
just buying foil, they are buying expertise, support and quality,” he says. “The Kurz business is not just selling foil, we are not a trading house. Our business is about ensuring our customers achieve the result they want every time, and we do that through our whole service offering.”
50 years in ANZ
Known for its foiling solutions, Kurz continues to innovate as part of its strategy to help print and packaging businesses stay ahead. ANZ managing director Stephen Pratt tells Print21 editor Wayne Robinson why Kurz continues to grow in size and influence as it celebrates 50 years in Australia. W
ith its beginnings in the 1890s, Leonhard Kurz Stiftung & Company, or
Kurz, as it is commonly known,
is an integral part of the print
and packaging industry. It is estimated that every day some five million people around the world handle products that have Kurz foils on them, from magazines, greetings cards, confectionery, and cosmetics, through to food packaging, and of course,
beverage labels.
The Kurz business remains in the
hands of the family of the founder, which goes a long way to explaining the success of the company. It was
34 Print21 JULY/AUGUST 2020