Page 41 - Print 21 Magazine Sep-Oct 2021

Cover Feature
Driving the tempo of change
Change is tough and change is disruptive but change is inevitable if improvement is the goal. Rob Mesaros is well versed in initiating and managing organisational change, mostly in large multinational businesses such as HP where he’s spent most of his career. Now he’s charged with reenergising, Currie Group, the
3graphic industry’s largest supplier. He believes success depends on finding the right tempo of change.
D printing, or additive to answer were; ‘What next? Where do we go industry?’ It didn’t make sense to me. So, manufacturing, is a disruptive from here? How do we leverage our strengths? we’ve decided to take a considered and technology at the cutting edge of What’s the next wave of growth that we can deliberate step into that market. We saw innovation, an industry that Rob layer on top of our core business?’ an opportunity with EFI, who have great Mesaros knows very well given “We’ve now placed two substantial technology, yet had a gap in their go-to-
his recent experience in setting up HP’s calculated bets. One is that 3D digital market strategy. It seemed a great fit.”
3D business in Asia. Currie Group is also accustomed to dealing with new technologies. When Mesaros took the reins as CEO of the industry’s largest supplier this year, after six months
as a strategic adviser, he was well prepared not only to meet the challenge of integrating EVOK3D, the Group’s recently acquired 3D printing business, but to take on the task of modernising the business to meet the future. He regards the Group’s well-established foundation of reputation, stability, and service capability as natural strengths to leverage as it embarks on its modernisation journey.
“Having that stability and reputation has worked in our favour, the questions I needed
Rob Mesaros, CEO, Currie Group
manufacturing is here to stay, and will be a substantial method by which products
will be produced for decades to come. The acquisition and partnership with EVOK3D was Currie Group’s
first strategic step to industry participation.”
He believes the fundamental business model behind 3D
exhibits similar characteristics as witnessed with HP
Indigo and the digital transformation of the print
industry.
Sign & display
With Mesaros’ first big step in the transformation of the Group being the entry
into 3D, he had another sector in his sights. He says, “I
asked, ‘why hasn’t the business participated in the sign and display
The combination of EFI’s technology with Currie Group’s ANZ service capability is undoubtedly a strong match. It is already proving its worth with new sales. Mesaros now regards the two new business units as strong, substantial steps to position the Group for growth.
Overall, the company agenda falls under the strategic umbrella called ‘modernisation’. Masaros says, “It’s taking a comprehensive review of all things fundamental. It may not be so visible in the early days to the outside world, but internally we’re on a journey to reinventing our systems, tools and automating our processes, fundamentally improving the way we work and serving our customers. Making sure we have the right systems, the right tools, the right integration and the right automation.
“The words I use are ‘tempo’ and ‘sequencing’. We’ll take bold and aggressive steps and always be cross-checking the impact it has on our customer service. Ultimately everything we do needs to deliver better customer and employee experiences.”
Labels & Packaging
Changing the game in labels & packaging
Two essential ingredients have fuelled Currie Group’s successful engagement with the labels and packaging industry – having the right equipment and the right personnel. HP Indigo was an early entrant into narrow web digital labels, launching its Series 3 presses in 2004. If not immediately accepted by label convertors, it empathically demonstrated what was possible for the sector in the future.
In Mark Daws, an HP Indigo-trained operative, Currie Group found it had the right man to transform those humble beginnings into the dominant industry position it enjoys today as a major technology supplier. From promoting one HP Indigo digital narrow-web label press with minimal converting, to having a full end-to-end label and packaging suite of production equipment, it is the fruition of Daws’ vision and determination.
He says, “We saw a real need for digital to complement conventional flexo. And as we grew in that narrow web labels sector, it was natural to
expand the division. I identified other agencies with complementary products. We brought on key brands such as AB Graphics Int, Omet and Karlville, and really, along with my team, we have focused our attention since on building up the division, it is now a significant part of our business.”
The HP Indigo core of the Group’s labels and packaging division is complemented by extensive finishing systems from UK-based, AB Graphics, which recently launched its DigiJet embellishing modules. Traditional flexo production is the preserve of the Italian-made Omet press range. While the HP Indigo 6k Digital Press has proved
to be the mainstay of the brand’s success in recent years, Daws is keenly anticipating the arrival next year of the new HP Indigo V12 Digital Press, with its radically new LEPx imaging system, printing up to 12 colours at 120 mpm.
Mark Daws, director – Labels & Packaging ANZ
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