In April 2020, Len Lauer, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Memjet, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 62 at his home in La Jolla, California. He had led the company, which specialises in digital printing solutions, since 2010. He was succeeded by Sunil Gupta, the new CEO, who has been on the company's Executive Board since 2019. A conversation about times of change.
packaging journal: Memjet has experienced a difficult time. How have you and the company fared over the past two months?
Sunil Gupta: With the death of Len Lauer in April, we at Memjet not only lost a friend and mentor, but also an outstanding leader. It was a very sad time for the 400 employees worldwide. What's more, we were only able to mourn together virtually due to the lockdown. I had known Len for a long time and had the privilege of working alongside him before I became a member of the Memjet Executive Board in 2019. With the employees, the production and the company culture that he had built and shaped as CEO, we can continue to lead Memjet with determination. And that's what he would have wanted.
As I grow into my new role, I am receiving great support from our staff and I am grateful to each and every one of them. I feel it is an honour and a privilege to take on the role of CEO and I greatly appreciate the trust of the Board of Directors.
packaging journal: Where have you been employed in the course of your career?
Sunil Gupta: I have been working in the printing industry for 40 years. And just like the industry, my work has evolved. From 2016 to 2018, I was Managing Director of Fuji Xerox Australia, Fuji Xerox's largest distribution company. During this time, I was also a board member of Fuji Xerox Australia. Prior to that, I was Managing Director of Fuji Xerox Asia Pacific in Malaysia, and before that President and CEO of Xerox International Partners for ten years. I have been a member of the Memjet Board since January 2019. My aim is to build on Len Lauer's determination, team spirit and commitment with the full confidence of the Memjet Board and senior leadership team.
The impact of the coronavirus pandemic
packaging journal: What impact is the pandemic having on Memjet?
Sunil Gupta: Over the years, Memjet has invested heavily in coordinated cooperation between the subsidiaries and the global production and storage facilities. This ensures that our OEM partners have access to the required technologies, components and support services at all times.
As more and more countries around the world were forced to go into lockdown, we pushed ahead with the development of Memjet Cloud Services. This enables us to support our customers remotely with installations, training and troubleshooting. We even use this cloud-based service to support the installation of large and complex printing solutions. It is a comprehensive programme that guarantees customers higher productivity and better availability and will therefore continue to play an important role in the future.
packaging journal: How have your OEM partners reacted to the pandemic?
Sunil Gupta: As previously indicated, our global teams are working closely with OEM partners to ensure the timely delivery of printing solutions. Nevertheless, this unprecedented lockdown has had a significant impact on the development and market launch at Memjet and our partners. We had originally hoped to announce the launch of several new solutions in spring 2020. However, many solutions with the seal Powered by Memjet will not be available until the second half of the year or drupa 2021.
In terms of marketing, we have put together a kind of economic stimulus package for many partners. We are supporting them in the areas of marketing and sales so that they can react directly as the economic situation recovers. In addition, we are planning a series of events for the autumn at which we will present new Powered by Memjet-solutions. Whether virtually and/or on site remains to be seen.
Price-conscious solutions sought
packaging journal: How do you think the pandemic will affect the printing industry?
Sunil Gupta: The pandemic is an unforeseen event with an uncertain outcome. Although various forecasts are circulating as to how and when the industry will recover, there is no certainty.
One thing is certain: the pandemic is changing the way we live and work and this is having a direct impact on the printing industry. At the moment, this is reflected in a weak order situation, but it is also clear that the effects are not the same everywhere. While demand for mailings has temporarily declined, enquiries for labels and packaged food and pharmaceuticals have risen sharply.
In packaging printing, the picture is not entirely clear. There was a decline at the beginning of the pandemic, but in view of the rocket-like growth in online trade during the lockdown and in the period afterwards, a significant recovery is to be expected. In uncertain times, print shops are reluctant to invest heavily in large machines. Instead, they are looking for price-conscious solutions that offer them the speed, quality and environmental friendliness they need to capitalise on new market opportunities. With Memjet's printing technology, OEM partners have the means to develop these solutions in a timely manner.
packaging journal: How can inkjet printing help print shops in the „new normal“?
Sunil Gupta: Memjet's technology (VersaPass, DuraLink and DuraFlex) is now more cost-effective and offers more resolution and speed than ever before. In addition, our OEM partners need less time for development thanks to the modular structure of our technology. This allows them to bring their printing solutions to market faster and more cost-effectively. This is a crucial factor, especially in a time of great uncertainty.
With more and more OEM partners around the world utilising our technology, the industry can look forward to a new generation of printing solutions that are up to the challenges of the pandemic. The barrier to entry for solutions with the seal Powered by Memjet is lower than with expensive and complex machines, yet they produce high-quality prints with resolutions of up to 1600 dpi. With these affordable inkjet solutions, print shops can expand their range to include labels, packaging and industrial print products.
People are constantly evolving and the same applies to technology. We are living in a time of upheaval, which is a great challenge for many people. However, I am confident that advanced technologies coupled with human perseverance will open up new opportunities for our industry in a post-pandemic world.
