Greg Bird, Managing Director, Kolbus UK, has been elected onto the Picon Council, the body which determines the strategy and direction of the trade organisation.
“Picon is more important than ever before. We have been through a pandemic, Brexit and are now heading into what looks like a long and deep recession and the support, advice and networking that this trade body offers is vital,” says Bird (pictured left).
Picon, the Printing Industry Confederation, represents manufacturers and suppliers of graphic arts equipment in the UK. Kolbus has been a member for many years and Bird says that the benefits have been twofold. On the one hand there are the support services, training grants and access to political and financial experts which enable a company to make more informed decisions. But, as important, is the ability to be part of a community of trust where open and transparent talks can be discussed openly. He believes this is good for the industry, often resulting in shared best practice.
By joining the Council, Bird hopes to have an impact on the direction of the organisation and on the events held. Asked for three outcomes he would like to result from his membership, he says, “I want to make sure we fully understand what members want and encourage greater take up of support, not least training grants. We must encourage good, healthy discussion and resist the organisation becoming regimented. I would like Picon to grow, especially if there are sectors within the graphic arts sector which are not currently served.”
The Picon Council is chaired by James Boughton, (Managing Director, Edale) and other council members include: Mark Bristow (Friedheim International); Iain Bullock (Renz); Neil Jones (Bobst UK); Tim Klemz (Compact Engineering); Ryan Miles (Heidelberg); Peter Murphy (Turnbull & Scott); Stuart Murphy (Rollem); Kevin O’Donnell (Xerox UK, Ireland and the Nordics); Andy Pang (Koenig & Bauer); and Neil Sutton (Komori).
